Ampharetinae

Ampharetinae are a subfamily of terebellid "bristle worm" (class Polychaeta). As such, they belong to the order Canalipalpata, one of the three main clades of polychaetes. They are the largest subfamily of the Ampharetidae, of which they contain far more than half of the described genera.

The majority of ampharetines are marine organisms like usual for polychaetes. However, some members of this subfamily are among the rare euryhaline polychaetes, inhabiting brackish and freshwater habitat. They are generally smallish deposit feeders which frequently live in small tubes they build from mud or similar substrate, or burrow in the sand.