Pterasteridae

Pterasteridae; Temporal range: Campanian–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Pteraster capensis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
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.^[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 :

Amembranaster Golotsvan, 1998 -- 1 species
Benthaster Sladen, 1882 -- 3 species
Calyptraster Sladen, 1882 -- 5 species
Diplopteraster Verrill, 1880 -- 7 species
Euretaster Fisher, 1940 -- 3 species
Hymenaster Thomson, 1873 -- 51 species
Hymenasterides Fisher, 1911 -- 2 species
Pteraster Müller & Troschel, 1842 -- 46 species

References

^ Mah, C.L. "Pterasteridae Perrier, 1875". World Asteroidea Database. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
^ Mah, Christopher L. (13 September 2010). "Pteraster & kin- Starfish that fight back with mucus!". Echinoblog.
^ 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.

External links

Data related to Pterasteridae at Wikispecies
Media related to Pterasteridae at Wikimedia Commons

[1] Mah, C.L. "Pterasteridae Perrier, 1875". World Asteroidea Database. Retrieved 27 March 2014.

[Mah-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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