The Porcellanasteridae are 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
sea star
Starfish or sea stars are Star polygon, star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class (biology), class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to brittle star, ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to ...
s in the
order Paxillosida
The Paxillosida are a large order (biology), 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 ...
. These sea stars are found at
abyssal
The abyssal zone or abyssopelagic zone is a layer of the pelagic zone of the ocean. "Abyss" derives from the Greek word , meaning bottomless. At depths of , this zone remains in perpetual darkness. It covers 83% of the total area of the ocean a ...
depths.
The World Asteroidea Database includes these
genera
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
in this family:
[
*'' Abyssaster'' Madsen, 1961
*'' Benthogenia'' Fisher, 1911
*'' Damnaster'' H.E.S. Clark & McKnight, 1994
*'' Eremicaster'' Fisher, 1905
*'' Hyphalaster'' Sladen, 1883
*'' Lethmaster'' Belyaev, 1969
*'' Lysaster'' Bell, 1909
*'' Porcellanaster'' Wyville Thomson, 1877
*'' Sidonaster'' Koehler, 1909
*'' Styracaster'' Sladen, 1883
*'' Thoracaster'' Sladen, 1883
*'' Vitjazaster'' Belyaev, 1969
]
References
Paxillosida
Echinoderm families
{{Asteroidea-stub