Pterasteridae

Pterasteridae
Temporal range: Campanian–Recent
Pteraster capensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Velatida
Family: Pterasteridae
Perrier, 1875
Genera

See text

Pterasteridae is a family of sea stars in the order Velatida, consisting of eight genera.

Description and characteristics

Pterasterids are primarily deep-water, and have an inflated aboral surface. Like many other members of the ordo Velatida, they have a hole in the middle of the central disc called "osculum", from which they can expel mucus for defending against predators.

Many species brood their young in an internal chamber flushed with seawater.

Fossil pterasterids have been found as early as the upper Campanian of the Cretaceous period.

Genera

According to the World Register of Marine Species :

References

  1. ↑ Mah, C.L. "Pterasteridae Perrier, 1875". World Asteroidea Database. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  2. ↑ Mah, Christopher L. (13 September 2010). "Pteraster & kin- Starfish that fight back with mucus!". Echinoblog.
  3. ↑ Villier, Loïc; Blake, Daniel B.; Jagt, John W. M.; Kutscher, Manfred (2004). "A preliminary phylogeny of the Pterasteridae (Echinodermata, Asteroidea) and the first fossil record: Late Cretaceous of Germany and Belgium". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 78 (2): 281–299. Bibcode:2004PalZ...78..281V. doi:10.1007/BF03009226. S2CID 140174051.