Gorgonocephalidae is a family of basket stars. They have characteristic many-branched arms.
Gorgonocephalidae are the largest ophiuroids (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis can measure up to 70 cm in arm length with a disk diameter of 14 cm).
Systematics and phylogeny
The family is divided into the following genera:
- Asteroporpa <small>ÃÂrsted & Lütken in: Lütken, 1856</small>
- Astracme <small>Döderlein, 1927</small>
- Astroboa <small>Döderlein, 1911</small>
- Astrocaneum <small>Döderlein, 1911</small>
- Astrochalcis <small>Koehler, 1905</small>
- Astrochele <small>Verrill, 1878</small>
- Astrochlamys <small>Koehler, 1912</small>
- Astrocladus <small>Verrill, 1899</small>
- Astroclon <small>Lyman, 1879</small>
- Astrocnida <small>Lyman, 1872</small>
- Astrocrius <small>Döderlein, 1927</small>
- Astrocyclus <small>Döderlein, 1927</small>
- Astrodendrum <small>Döderlein, 1911</small>
- Astrodictyum <small>Döderlein, 1927</small>
- Astroglymma <small>Döderlein, 1927</small>
- Astrogomphus <small>Lyman, 1870</small>
- Astrogordius <small>Döderlein, 1911</small>
- Astrohamma <small>Döderlein, 1930</small>
- Astrohelix <small>Döderlein, 1930</small>
- Astroniwa <small>McKnight, 2000</small>
- Astrophyton <small>Fleming, 1828</small>
- Astroplegma <small>Döderlein, 1927</small>
- Astrosierra <small>Baker, 1980</small>
- Astrospartus <small>Döderlein, 1911</small>
- Astrothamnus <small>Matsumoto, 1915</small>
- Astrothorax <small>Döderlein, 1911</small>
- Astrothrombus <small>H.L. Clark, 1909</small>
- Astrotoma <small>Lyman, 1875</small>
- Astrozona <small>Döderlein, 1930</small>
- Conocladus <small>H.L. Clark, 1909</small>
- Gorgonocephalus <small>Leach, 1815</small>
- Ophiocrene <small>Bell, 1894</small>
- Ophiozeta <small>Koehler, 1930</small>
- Schizostella <small>A.H. Clark, 1952</small>
Fossil record of Gorgonocephalidae dates back to Miocene.
References