The Astropectinidae are a
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
of
sea star
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 a ...
s in the
order Paxillosida
The Paxillosida are a large order of sea stars.
Characteristics
Paxillosida adults lack an anus and have no suckers on their tube feet. They do not develop the brachiolaria stage in their early development.Matsubara, M., Komatsu, M., Araki, T., ...
. 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'', which share similar shape and life habits, but belong to the family
Archasteridae (order
Valvatida
The Valvatida are an order of starfish in the class Asteroidea, which contains 695 species in 172 genera in 17 families.
Description
The order encompasses both tiny species, which are only a few millimetres in diameter, like those in the genu ...
).
Genera
There are 27 genera in the family:
* ''
Astromesites''
Fisher, 1913
* ''
Astropecten
''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae.
Identification
These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain d ...
''
Gray, 1840
* ''
Astropectinides''
Verrill, 1914
* ''
Bathybiaster''
Danielssen & Koren, 1883
* ''
Blakiaster''
Perrier, 1881
* ''
Bollonaster''
McKnight, 1977
* ''
Bunodaster''
Verrill, 1909
* ''
Craspidaster''
Sladen, 1889
* ''
Ctenophoraster''
Fisher, 1906
* ''
Ctenopleura''
Fisher, 1913
* ''
Dipsacaster''
Alcock, 1893
* ''
Dytaster''
Sladen, 1889
* ''
Koremaster''
Fisher, 1913
* ''
Leptychaster''
E.A. Smith, 1876
* ''
Lonchotaster''
Sladen, 1889
* ''
Macroptychaster''
H.E.S. Clark, 1963
* ''
Mimastrella''
Fisher, 1916
* ''
Patagiaster''
Fisher, 1906
* ''
Persephonaster''
Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891
* ''
Pentasteria''
Valette, 1929
* ''
Plutonaster''
Sladen, 1889
* ''
Proserpinaster''
Fell, 1963
* ''
Psilaster''
Sladen, 1885
* ''
Tethyaster''
Sladen, 1889
* ''
Thrissacanthias''
Fisher, 1910
* ''
Tritonaster''
Fisher, 1906
* ''
Trophodiscus''
Fisher, 1917
Image:Astropecten aranciacus Sardegna09 28cm 5520.jpg, '' Astropecten aranciacus''
Image:Purple and Orange Starfish on the Beach (2884079538).jpg, '' Astropecten articulatus''
Image:Astropecten bispinosus Sardegna06 3284.jpg, ''Astropecten bispinosus
''Astropecten bispinosus'' is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae from the Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat and behaviour
Starfishes of genus Astropecten live on mobile seabed (sandy, muddy or gravel seabed) and they remain largely buried under ...
''
Image:Astropecten irregularis pentacanthus Sardegna09 17cm 5962.jpg, ''Astropecten irregularis
''Astropecten irregularis'' is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae. Common names include Sand sea star (A. i. pontoporeus).Jones, Georgina. ''A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula.'' SURG, Cape Town, 2008.
Habitat and ...
''
Image:Astropecten jonstoni Naxos08 1832 640x480 dpi90.jpg, '' Astropecten jonstoni''
Image:Astropecten platyacanthus Sardegna09 e cm09 5503.jpg, '' Astropecten platyacanthus''
Image:Astropectinides ctenophora.jpg, '' Astropectinides ctenophora''
Image:Bollonaster pectinatus P2133405.JPG, '' Bollonaster pectinatus''
Image:Bordered sea star (Craspidaster hesperus).jpg, '' Craspidaster hesperus''
Image:Dytaster insignis.jpg, '' Dytaster insignis''
Image:Plutonaster.jpg, '' Plutonaster sp.''
Image:Psilaster andromeda - Oslo Zoological Museum - IMG 9090.jpg, '' Psilaster andromeda''
Image:Tethyaster grandis.jpg, '' Tethyaster grandis''
References
*
Paxillosida
Echinoderm families
{{Asteroidea-stub