Asterias is a genus of the Asteriidae family of sea stars. It includes several of the best-known species of sea stars, including the (Atlantic) common starfish, Asterias rubens, and the northern Pacific seastar, Asterias amurensis. The genus contains a total of eight species in all. All species have five arms and are native to shallow oceanic areas of cold to temperate parts of the Holarctic. These starfish have planktonic larvae. Asterias amurensis is an invasive species in Australia and can in some years become a pest in the Japanese mariculture industry.
The Valvatida are an order of starfish in the class Asteroidea, which contains 695 species in 172 genera in 17 families.
The Astropectinidae are a family of sea stars in the order Paxillosida. Usually, these starfish live on the seabed and immerse themselves in soft sediment such as sand and mud.
Goniasteridae constitute the largest family of sea stars, included in the order Valvatida. They are mostly deep-dwelling species, but the family also include several colorful shallow tropical species.
Ceramaster is a genus of cushion stars in the family Goniasteridae. The species in this genus have no arms. They live in deeper waters than most sea stars.
Henricia is a large genus of slender-armed sea stars belonging to the family Echinasteridae. It contains about fifty species.
Solaster is a genus of sea stars in the family Solasteridae.
The Brisingidae are a family of starfish found only in the deep sea. They inhabit both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at abyssal depths, and also occur in the Southern Ocean and around Antarctica at slightly shallower depths.
The Freyellidae are a family of deep-sea-dwelling starfish. It is one of two families in the order Brisingida. The majority of species in this family are found in Antarctic waters and near Australia. Other species have been found near New Zealand and the United States.
The Zoroasteridae are one of three families of Asteroidea in the order Forcipulatida. It contains seven living genera and one extinct genus.
Psilaster is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Myxasteridae is a family of deep-sea velatid sea stars containing nine species in three genera.
Brisinga is a genus of starfish in the family Brisingidae. The species in this genus are primarily found in deep sea habitats.
Freyella is a genus of deep-sea-dwelling starfish in the order Brisingida.
Pseudarchasteridae is a family of echinoderms belonging to the order Paxillosida.
Pseudarchaster is a genus of echinoderms belonging to the family Pseudarchasteridae.
Ophidiaster is a genus of echinoderms belonging to the family Ophidiasteridae.
Dytaster is a genus of echinoderms belonging to the family Astropectinidae.
Rosaster is a genus of echinoderms belonging to the family Goniasteridae.
Chitonaster is a genus of echinoderms belonging to the family Goniasteridae.
