ANNELIDA : Phyllodocida : HesionidaeANNELID WORMS

Ophiodromus flexuosus (Chiaje, 1827)


Ophiodromus flexuosus image: ophfle
Ophiodromus flexuosus

Description: Ophiodromus flexuosus is a free-living polychaete worm which can swim vigorously if disturbed. It is dark brown in colour with blue-green stripes across the back.

Habitat: This species is normally found amongst Virgularia mirabilis and Amphiura filiformis in fine muddy sand at depths from 5m to at least 30m.

Distribution: Widespread all round the British Isles.

Key Identification Features:

  • Short broad body
  • Blue-green stripes across the body

Distribution Map from NBN: Ophiodromus flexuosus at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Ophiodromus flexuosus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

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 Picton, B.E., Keatley, L. & Morrow, C.C. (2026). Ophiodromus flexuosus. (Chiaje, 1827). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=P5680. Accessed on 2026-11-01