Dinophilus taeniatus is a small annelid worm which lives in tidal pools.

It is 1.5 – 2.5 mm long and about 150 μm wide, orange in colour, with two distinct dark pigmented eyes on its prostomium.

The anterior part of prostomium has four large and many small bristles and sensory cilia.

[3] Free swimming Dinophilus taeniatus are found from October to June in tidal pools with the diatom Enteromorpha spp.

Numbers peak March to April and decline with rising temperature and lesser diatom abundances, the decline is due to death of reproducing adults and obligatory encystment of juveniles.