Some species are used to study echinoderm development (e.g. Amphipholis kochii[3] and Amphioplus abditus[4]) and bioluminescence (the dwarf brittle star, Amphipholis squamata[5][6]).

The family contains the following genera:[8] In addition, two extinct genera are known:[10] Amphiuridae are found in oceans worldwide from tropics to Arctic and Antarctic regions, with some species living in brackish water.

[11] They live mostly by burrowing in the seafloor or hiding under rocks.

Though most amphiurid brittlestars broadcast their eggs and sperm into the sea, many species in this family are "brooders" and carry their young in bursae.

One species, Amphiodia akosmos from the Monterey Peninsula of California, was found with up to 11 brooding embryos in one adult (Hendler and Bundrick, 2001).