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Pterasteridae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pterasteridae
Temporal range: Campanian–Recent
Pteraster capensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Velatida
Family: Pterasteridae
Perrier, 1875
Genera[1]

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

Description and characteristics

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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

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According to the World Register of Marine Species :

References

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  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.
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