Ophryotrocha

Ophryotrocha is a genus of marine polychaete worms in the family Dorvilleidae.

Ophryotrocha comprises a multitude of extant species of polychaete worms with more thought to exist in both shallow and deep waters. Polychaetes of this genus thrive in nutrient-rich environments and can often be found in polluted marine areas that are often sites of human activity.Ophryotrocha's durability allows them to exist in a myriad of stressful environments. Found in the oceans surrounding Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean, and beyond, they can survive in low-oxygen environments and are known to be sulfide tolerant, allowing this genus to live in areas most species cannot. Most worms are between 1 and 5 mm in length, but some deep sea species have been documented to be much larger, ranging from 10 and 25mm. Ophryotrocha is often used as a scientific test species due to their high fecundity, stress tolerance, and myriad of sexual systems found within the genus.