Gorgonocephalidae

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

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

Arms of Astroboa nuda

Gorgonocephalidae are the largest ophiuroids ( Gorgonocephalus eucnemis 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. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Gorgonocephalidae Ljungman, 1867". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 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