Gorgonocephalidae

Gorgonocephalidae is a family of basket stars. They have characteristic many-branched arms.

Arms of Astroboa nuda

Gorgonocephalidae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Ophiuroidea
Order:	Phrynophiurida
Suborder:	Euryalina
Family:	Gorgonocephalidae Ljungman, 1867
Genera
see text.

Gorgonocephalidae are the largest ophiuroids (Gorgonocephalus stimpsoni can measure up to 70 cm in arm length with a disk diameter of 14 cm).[1]

Systematics and phylogeny

The family is divided into the following genera:[2]

Asteroporpa Örsted & Lütken in: Lütken, 1856 Astracme Döderlein, 1927 Astroboa Döderlein, 1911 Astrocaneum Döderlein, 1911 Astrochalcis Koehler, 1905 Astrochele Verrill, 1878 Astrochlamys Koehler, 1912 Astrocladus Verrill, 1899 Astroclon Lyman, 1879 Astrocnida Lyman, 1872 Astrocrius Döderlein, 1927 Astrocyclus Döderlein, 1927 Astrodendrum Döderlein, 1911 Astrodictyum Döderlein, 1927 Astroglymma Döderlein, 1927 Astrogomphus Lyman, 1870 Astrogordius Döderlein, 1911 Astrohamma Döderlein, 1930 Astrohelix Döderlein, 1930

Astroniwa McKnight, 2000 Astrophyton Fleming, 1828 Astroplegma Döderlein, 1927 Astrosierra Baker, 1980 Astrospartus Döderlein, 1911 Astrothamnus Matsumoto, 1915 Astrothorax Döderlein, 1911 Astrothrombus H.L. Clark, 1909 Astrotoma Lyman, 1875 Astrozona Döderlein, 1930 Conocladus H.L. Clark, 1909 Gorgonocephalus Leach, 1815 Ophiocrene Bell, 1894 Ophiozeta Koehler, 1930 Schizostella A.H. Clark, 1952

Fossil record of Gorgonocephalidae dates back to Miocene.[3]

References

1. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, vol 1, Gale Cengage 2003
2. http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=123203 accessed 26 August 2014
3. Kroh, A. 2003. First record of gorgonocephalid ophiuroids (Echinodermata) from the Middle Miocene of the Central Paratethys. Cainozoic Research 2: 143-155