Hemicidaridae

Hemicidaridae is a family of extinct sea urchins characterized by large, massive, club-shaped spines.

These epifaunal grazer-deposit feeders lived in Jurassic and Cretaceous ages (from 189.6 to 112.6 Ma).

Taxonomy

List of genera and subfamilies:

• Subfamily Hemicidarinae <small> Wright, 1857</small> â€Â

Asterocidaris <small>Cotteau, 1859</small> â€Â

Gymnocidaris <small>L. Agassiz, 1838</small> â€Â

Hemicidaris <small>L. Agassiz, 1838</small> â€Â

• Subfamily Pseudocidarinae <small>Smith & Wright, 1993</small> â€Â

Cidaropsis <small>Cotteau, 1863</small> â€Â

Pseudocidaris <small>Pomel, 1883</small> â€Â

Gymnocidaris <small>L. Agassiz, 1838</small> â€Â

Distribution

Fossils of species within this genus have been found in the Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments in Europe, Africa, North America and China.

References