Zoroasteridae

The Zoroasteridae are one of three families of Asteroidea (sea stars) in the order Forcipulatida. It contains seven living genera and one extinct genus.

Genera

The living genera described are:

• Bythiolophus <small>Fisher, 1916</small> (monotypic)
• B. acanthinus <small>Fisher, 1916</small>
• Cnemidaster <small>Sladen, 1889</small> (six species)
• Doraster <small>Downey, 1970</small> (monotypic)
• D. constellatus <small>Downey, 1970</small>
• Myxoderma <small>Fisher, 1905</small> (five species)
• Pholidaster <small>Sladen, 1889</small> (monotypic)
• P. squamatus <small>Sladen, 1889</small>
• Sagenaster <small>Mah, 2007</small> (monotypic)
• S. evermanni (Fisher, 1905)
• Zoroaster <small>Thomson, 1873</small> (20 species)

The extinct genus known is:

• Terminaster <small>Hess, 1974†</small>

Distribution

Species in this family are widespread, distributed mainly in Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. A few are found in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans.

References

• Sladen, W.P. (1889). Report on the Asteroidea. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–1876, Zoology 30(51): xlii + 893 pages 118 plates.
• Hansson, H.G. (2001). Echinodermata, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp.&nbsp;336–351 (look up in IMIS)

Further reading

EOL.org