Archasteridae is a
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
of
starfish
Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars. Starfish ...
found in shallow waters in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''
Astropus'', previously included in this family, is now included in the genus ''Archaster'' with the single
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
, ''Astropus longipes'' (Gray, 1840), being accepted as ''Archaster lorioli'' Sukarno & Jangoux, 1977.
The only genus in the family is now ''Archaster'' as three subfamilies have now been raised to family status:
[
*Subfamily Benthopectininae accepted as Benthopectinidae
*Subfamily Pararchasterinae accepted as Benthopectinidae
*Subfamily Plutonasterinae accepted as ]Astropectinidae
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.
They are not to be confused with species in the genus '' Archaster'' ...
Species
The following species are listed by the World Register of Marine Species:
References
Asteroidea genera
Monotypic echinoderm genera
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