Worms in this family live on the seabed and may burrow under the sediment.

Members of the Phyllodocidae are characterised by an eversible pharynx and leaf-like dorsal cirri.

The first two or three body segments may be part-fused and bear up to four pairs of tentacular cirri.

The parapodia are uniramous or biramous, and chaetae are present on all but the first segment.

[2] The World Register of Marine Species includes the following genera :[1] [1]