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]

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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


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