Pterasteridae

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Pterasteridae
Temporal range: Campanian–Recent
Starfish at Tafelberg deep DSC09595.JPG
Pteraster capensis
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Velatida
Family: Pterasteridae
Perrier, 1875
Genera[1]

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.[2]

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.[3]

Genera[]

According to the World Register of Marine Species :

  • Golotsvan, 1998 -- 1 species
  • Sladen, 1882 -- 3 species
  • Sladen, 1882 -- 5 species
  • Verrill, 1880 -- 7 species
  • Euretaster Fisher, 1940 -- 3 species
  • Thomson, 1873 -- 51 species
  • Fisher, 1911 -- 2 species
  • Pteraster Müller & Troschel, 1842 -- 46 species

References[]

  1. ^ Mah, C.L. "Pterasteridae Perrier, 1875". World Asteroidea Database. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  2. ^ Mah, Christopher L. "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. doi:10.1007/BF03009226.

External links[]

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