Deep-Sea taxon details
Ophelia limacina (Rathke, 1843)
130494 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:130494)
accepted
Species
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
recent only
(of ) Rathke, H. (1843). Beiträge zur Fauna Norwegens. [Contributions to the Fauna of Norway]. <em>Nova Acta Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum, Breslau & Bonn.</em> 20: 1-264., available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.11613
page(s): 190-192, 202-205, plate X figs. 4-8, plate XI fig. 14 [details]
page(s): 190-192, 202-205, plate X figs. 4-8, plate XI fig. 14 [details]
Description Bristle worm with a short, thick fusiform body up to 55 mm long. The anterior end is cylindrical; the
posterior end is...
Distribution O. limacina is found in the Southern Bight, its distribution extending into the marine and central part of the...
Distribution Ophelia limacina is found on almost the entire Belgian part of the North Sea with a high frequency of occurrence. The...
Distribution Saguenay Fjord, northern Gaspe waters, southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle...
posterior end is...
Description Bristle worm with a short, thick fusiform body up to 55 mm long. The anterior end is cylindrical; the
posterior end is characterised by a ventral groove. The head is a simple smooth cone without
appendages, but does have groups of little bristles. The parapodia are in general reduced and bear finger-like gills on the hind part of the body. [details]
posterior end is characterised by a ventral groove. The head is a simple smooth cone without
appendages, but does have groups of little bristles. The parapodia are in general reduced and bear finger-like gills on the hind part of the body. [details]
Distribution O. limacina is found in the Southern Bight, its distribution extending into the marine and central part of the...
Distribution O. limacina is found in the Southern Bight, its distribution extending into the marine and central part of the Westerschelde. The polychaete also occurs north of the Wadden islands, at the Cleaver Bank and more offshore at the Dogger Bank, but is absent from the Oyster Ground. [details]
Distribution Ophelia limacina is found on almost the entire Belgian part of the North Sea with a high frequency of occurrence. The...
Distribution Ophelia limacina is found on almost the entire Belgian part of the North Sea with a high frequency of occurrence. The distribution of the species is only (very) limited in the coastal zone (1976-1986 period) or in the eastern coastal zone (1994-2001 period). The maximum density of O. limacina is > 600 ind./m2 in the 1976-1986 period whereas this amount fell to a maximum of about 150 ind./m2 in the 1994-2001 period. [details]
Distribution Saguenay Fjord, northern Gaspe waters, southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle...
Distribution Saguenay Fjord, northern Gaspe waters, southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle banks; eastern boundary: Eastern Bradelle Valley), downstream part of middle St. Lawrence estuary, lower St. Lawrence estuary, Prince Edward Island (from the northern tip of Miscou Island, N.B. to Cape Breton Island south of Cheticamp, including the Northumberland Strait and Georges Bay to the Canso Strait causeway); Lower North Shore [details]
Read, G.; Fauchald, K. (Ed.) (2025). World Polychaeta Database. Ophelia limacina (Rathke, 1843). Accessed through: Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2025) World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS) at: https://marinespecies.org/deepsea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=130494 on 2025-12-14
Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2025). World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS). Ophelia limacina (Rathke, 1843). Accessed at: https://marinespecies.org/deepsea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=130494 on 2025-12-14
Date
action
by
original description
(of ) Rathke, H. (1843). Beiträge zur Fauna Norwegens. [Contributions to the Fauna of Norway]. <em>Nova Acta Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum, Breslau & Bonn.</em> 20: 1-264., available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.11613
page(s): 190-192, 202-205, plate X figs. 4-8, plate XI fig. 14 [details]
context source (Deepsea) Census of Marine Life (2012). SYNDEEP: Towards a first global synthesis of biodiversity, biogeography and ecosystem function in the deep sea. Unpublished data (datasetID: 39), available online at http://www.comlsecretariat.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/SYNDEEP-Towards-a-first-global-synthesis-of-biodiversity-biogeography-and-ecosystem-function-in-the-deep-sea-Eva-Ramirez-Llodra-et-al..pdf [details]
context source (Schelde) Maris, T., O. Beauchard, S. Van Damme, E. Van den Bergh, S. Wijnhoven & P. Meire. (2013). Referentiematrices en Ecotoopoppervlaktes Annex bij de Evaluatiemethodiek Schelde-estuarium Studie naar “Ecotoopoppervlaktes en intactness index”. [Reference matrices and Ecotope areas Annex to the Evaluation methodology Scheldt estuary Study on “Ecotope areas and intactness index”. <em>Monitor Taskforce Publication Series, 2013-01. NIOZ: Yerseke.</em> 35 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
context source (BeRMS 2020) Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ); (2013). Data collected during the expeditions of the e-learning projects Expedition Zeeleeuw and Planet Ocean. [details]
basis of record Bellan, G. (2001). Polychaeta, <i>in</i>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. <em>Collection Patrimoines Naturels.</em> 50: 214-231. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Brunel, P., L. Bosse & G. Lamarche. (1998). Catalogue of the marine invertebrates of the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. <em>Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 126.</em> 405 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. <em>Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France.</em> 307 pp., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/145561.pdf [details]
additional source Dumitrescu, Elena. (1957). ContributIi la studiul Polichetelor din Marea Neagra, litoralul rominesc. <em>Buletin Stiintific, Akadademia Republicii Populare Romine, Sectia Biologie si Stiinte Agricole, Seria Zoologie.</em> 9: 119-130. [details] Available for editors
additional source Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). , available online at http://www.itis.gov [details]
additional source Hartmann-Schröder, G. (1996). Annelida, Borstenwürmer, Polychaeta [Annelida, bristleworms, Polychaeta]. <em>2nd revised ed. The fauna of Germany and adjacent seas with their characteristics and ecology, 58. Gustav Fischer: Jena, Germany. ISBN 3-437-35038-2.</em> 648 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Hartman, O. 1938. Descriptions of new species and new generic records of polychaetous annelids from California of the families Glyceridae, Eunicidae, Stauronereidae, and Opheliidae. University of California Publications in Zoology, 43(6): 93-111.
page(s): 107, figs. 55-58 [details] Available for editors
additional source Hartman, Olga. (1942). The identity of some marine annelid worms in the United States National Museum. <em>Proceedings of the United States National Museum.</em> 92(3142): 101-140., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15766789
page(s): 130 [details] Available for editors
additional source Malmgren, A.J. (1867). Annulata Polychaeta Spetsbergiæ, Grœnlandiæ, Islandiæ et Scandinaviæ. Hactenus Cognita. Ex Officina Frenckelliana, Helsingforslæ. 127 pp. & XIV plates., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/13358 [details]
additional source Støp-Bowitz, Carl. (1945). Les ophéliens norvégiens. <em>Meddelelser fra det Zoologiske Museum, Oslo.</em> 52: 21-61.
page(s): 32-38, fig. 2a-c [details] Available for editors
additional source Théel, H.J. (1879). Les Annélides Polychètes des mers de la Nouvelle-Zemble. <em>Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar.</em> 16(3): 1-75, plates I-IV., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33811612
page(s): 48-49, plate III figs. 448, 4415 [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
source of synonymy Tebble, Norman 1952. On three species of the genus Ophelia (Polychaeta) from British and adjacent waters. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 5: 553-571. [details]
source of synonymy Fauvel, P. 1907. Première note préliminaire sur les Polychètes provenant des campagnes de l'Hirondelle et de la Princesse-Alice ou déposées dans le Musée Océanographique de Monaco. Bulletin de l'Institute océanographique, 107: 1-34. [details]
redescription Jirkov, I.A. (2001). [Polychaeta of the Arctic Ocean] (In Russian) Polikhety severnogo Ledovitogo Okeana. Yanus-K Press, Moscow, 632 pp., available online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259865957_Jirkov_2001_Polychaeta_of_the_North_Polar_Basin [details] Available for editors
page(s): 190-192, 202-205, plate X figs. 4-8, plate XI fig. 14 [details]
context source (Deepsea) Census of Marine Life (2012). SYNDEEP: Towards a first global synthesis of biodiversity, biogeography and ecosystem function in the deep sea. Unpublished data (datasetID: 39), available online at http://www.comlsecretariat.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/SYNDEEP-Towards-a-first-global-synthesis-of-biodiversity-biogeography-and-ecosystem-function-in-the-deep-sea-Eva-Ramirez-Llodra-et-al..pdf [details]
context source (Schelde) Maris, T., O. Beauchard, S. Van Damme, E. Van den Bergh, S. Wijnhoven & P. Meire. (2013). Referentiematrices en Ecotoopoppervlaktes Annex bij de Evaluatiemethodiek Schelde-estuarium Studie naar “Ecotoopoppervlaktes en intactness index”. [Reference matrices and Ecotope areas Annex to the Evaluation methodology Scheldt estuary Study on “Ecotope areas and intactness index”. <em>Monitor Taskforce Publication Series, 2013-01. NIOZ: Yerseke.</em> 35 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details]
context source (BeRMS 2020) Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ); (2013). Data collected during the expeditions of the e-learning projects Expedition Zeeleeuw and Planet Ocean. [details]
basis of record Bellan, G. (2001). Polychaeta, <i>in</i>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. <em>Collection Patrimoines Naturels.</em> 50: 214-231. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Brunel, P., L. Bosse & G. Lamarche. (1998). Catalogue of the marine invertebrates of the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. <em>Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 126.</em> 405 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. <em>Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France.</em> 307 pp., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/145561.pdf [details]
additional source Dumitrescu, Elena. (1957). ContributIi la studiul Polichetelor din Marea Neagra, litoralul rominesc. <em>Buletin Stiintific, Akadademia Republicii Populare Romine, Sectia Biologie si Stiinte Agricole, Seria Zoologie.</em> 9: 119-130. [details] Available for editors
additional source Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). , available online at http://www.itis.gov [details]
additional source Hartmann-Schröder, G. (1996). Annelida, Borstenwürmer, Polychaeta [Annelida, bristleworms, Polychaeta]. <em>2nd revised ed. The fauna of Germany and adjacent seas with their characteristics and ecology, 58. Gustav Fischer: Jena, Germany. ISBN 3-437-35038-2.</em> 648 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Hartman, O. 1938. Descriptions of new species and new generic records of polychaetous annelids from California of the families Glyceridae, Eunicidae, Stauronereidae, and Opheliidae. University of California Publications in Zoology, 43(6): 93-111.
page(s): 107, figs. 55-58 [details] Available for editors
additional source Hartman, Olga. (1942). The identity of some marine annelid worms in the United States National Museum. <em>Proceedings of the United States National Museum.</em> 92(3142): 101-140., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15766789
page(s): 130 [details] Available for editors
additional source Malmgren, A.J. (1867). Annulata Polychaeta Spetsbergiæ, Grœnlandiæ, Islandiæ et Scandinaviæ. Hactenus Cognita. Ex Officina Frenckelliana, Helsingforslæ. 127 pp. & XIV plates., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/13358 [details]
additional source Støp-Bowitz, Carl. (1945). Les ophéliens norvégiens. <em>Meddelelser fra det Zoologiske Museum, Oslo.</em> 52: 21-61.
page(s): 32-38, fig. 2a-c [details] Available for editors
additional source Théel, H.J. (1879). Les Annélides Polychètes des mers de la Nouvelle-Zemble. <em>Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar.</em> 16(3): 1-75, plates I-IV., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33811612
page(s): 48-49, plate III figs. 448, 4415 [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
source of synonymy Tebble, Norman 1952. On three species of the genus Ophelia (Polychaeta) from British and adjacent waters. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 5: 553-571. [details]
source of synonymy Fauvel, P. 1907. Première note préliminaire sur les Polychètes provenant des campagnes de l'Hirondelle et de la Princesse-Alice ou déposées dans le Musée Océanographique de Monaco. Bulletin de l'Institute océanographique, 107: 1-34. [details]
redescription Jirkov, I.A. (2001). [Polychaeta of the Arctic Ocean] (In Russian) Polikhety severnogo Ledovitogo Okeana. Yanus-K Press, Moscow, 632 pp., available online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259865957_Jirkov_2001_Polychaeta_of_the_North_Polar_Basin [details] Available for editors
Present Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
Unreviewed
Biology Females with ripe eggs have been observed in spring and summer. The planktonic larvae occur in waters with a salinity down to 13%. O. limacina is a typical non-selective deposit feeder. The lack of food specialisation of adults contrasts sharply with the selectivity of juveniles for certain types of substrate. The species is food for demersal fish (Hartmann-Schröder, 1971; Wolff, 1973; Curtis, 1977; Kirkegaard, 1978; Fauchald & Jumars, 1979). [details]
Description Bristle worm with a short, thick fusiform body up to 55 mm long. The anterior end is cylindrical; the
posterior end is characterised by a ventral groove. The head is a simple smooth cone without
appendages, but does have groups of little bristles. The parapodia are in general reduced and bear finger-like gills on the hind part of the body. [details]
Distribution O. limacina is found in the Southern Bight, its distribution extending into the marine and central part of the Westerschelde. The polychaete also occurs north of the Wadden islands, at the Cleaver Bank and more offshore at the Dogger Bank, but is absent from the Oyster Ground. [details]
Distribution Ophelia limacina is found on almost the entire Belgian part of the North Sea with a high frequency of occurrence. The distribution of the species is only (very) limited in the coastal zone (1976-1986 period) or in the eastern coastal zone (1994-2001 period). The maximum density of O. limacina is > 600 ind./m2 in the 1976-1986 period whereas this amount fell to a maximum of about 150 ind./m2 in the 1994-2001 period. [details]
Distribution Saguenay Fjord, northern Gaspe waters, southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle banks; eastern boundary: Eastern Bradelle Valley), downstream part of middle St. Lawrence estuary, lower St. Lawrence estuary, Prince Edward Island (from the northern tip of Miscou Island, N.B. to Cape Breton Island south of Cheticamp, including the Northumberland Strait and Georges Bay to the Canso Strait causeway); Lower North Shore [details]
Habitat The species prefers medium to coarse sands mixed with gravel or shell fragments. Muddy sediments seem to be avoided. [details]
Habitat Ophelia limacina has a clear preference for coarse sediments: a high relative occurrence (> 40%) is reached in sediments with a median grain size of 300 to 550 μm. However, the species is absent in very coarse sediments (> 600 μm). Ophelia limacina tends to prefer sediments with low mud contents (optimum: 0 to 10%). The species does not occur in sediments with a mud content exceeding 20%. [details]
Habitat bathyal, infralittoral and circalittoral of the Gulf and estuary [details]
Morphology Body short, thick and spindle-shaped. Body maximally 50 mm in length and divided into 40 segments. The front part is cylindrical, while the hind part of the body has a ventral groove. The head is pointed, without appendages. Parapodia are inconspicuous and bear finger-like gills on the posterior part of the body. O. limacina is pink to flesh-coloured (Hartmann-Schröder, 1971). [details]
| Language | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| English | snail opheliidHamlet's ophelia worm | [details] |
| French | ophélie | [details] |
| German | SchneckenwurmGroßer Hamletwurm | [details] |
To Barcode of Life (10 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (78 publications)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Ophelia limacina)
To GenBank (379 nucleotides; 8 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To Macrozoobenthos communities of Svalbard
To PESI
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Annelida Collection (69 records)
To ITIS
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (78 publications)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Ophelia limacina)
To GenBank (379 nucleotides; 8 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To Macrozoobenthos communities of Svalbard
To PESI
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Annelida Collection (69 records)
To ITIS
Unreviewed
