Biodiversity & Conservation

A bristleworm - Ophelia borealis

Ophelia borealis

Image Crown copyright - Ophelia borealis highlighting cone-shaped prostomium.
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Distribution map

Ophelia borealis recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

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Ophelia borealis is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy Taxon English term
Phylum Annelida Segmented worms e.g. ragworms, tubeworms & fanworms
Class Polychaeta Bristleworms, e.g. ragworms, scaleworms, paddleworms, fanworms and tubeworms
Authority (Quatrefages, 1866)
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland Ophelia borealis is widespread around the British Isles but less common on the Irish coasts.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Ophelia borealis inhabits clean sand in the subtidal and intertidal zones up to high water.
Text page icon Description Ophelia borealis has a stout, segmented body that increases rapidly in width from the head to the 10th segment and grows to up to 2.3 cm in length. The body is divided into a head, thorax of 10 segments, abdomen of 20 segments and a pygidium. It is deep red in colour with an iridescent blue or lilac overtone. The head bears a pointed cone-shaped prostomium and a short, blunt proboscis. The head is differentiated from the thorax by 15 superficial rings. Segments are marked by 5-7 superficial rings, and a pair of parapodia on either side bearing cylindrical, slender chaetae that are longer dorsally. The abdomen bears slender chaetae-like gills and is distinguished by a deep ventral groove that runs from the 7th segment towards the pygidium and two lateral grooves that house vertical rows of small pores above the notopodia. Numerous papillae cover the surface of the pygidium.
Identifying features
  • Stout, body with approximately 30 segments.
  • Body is widest at tenth segment and up to 2.3 cm in length.
  • Deep pinkish, red colour with a lilac or blue iridescent tint.
  • Segments marked with 5-7 superficial rings.
  • Chaetae slender, unjointed, and shorter on the neuropodia than the notopodia.
  • Abdominal region distinguished by a deep ventral groove commencing at the seventh segment, two lateral grooves and chaetae-like gills.
  • Numerous papillae cover the pygidium.
Additional information icon Additional information This species is similar to Ophelia limacina.

This review can be cited as follows:

Saskiya Richards 2007. Ophelia borealis. A bristleworm. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 20/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=3962>