The worms live in tubes made of sand and are selective filter feeders,[1] detritivores and grazers.

The head of the worm does not bear a proboscis, but has the mouth at the tip rimmed by some very short tentacles.

There are a large number of hooked chaetae or bristles on a small pad on the ventral side of each segment.

These chaetae have two parallel teeth resembling claws which is a feature that distinguishes members of this family from other polychaetes.

Family members are unique in having a bell-shaped larval stage known as a mitraria larva.