Gorgonocephalidae
| Gorgonocephalidae | |
|---|---|
|   | |
| Scientific classification   | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia | 
| Phylum: | Echinodermata | 
| Class: | Ophiuroidea | 
| Order: | Phrynophiurida | 
| Suborder: | Euryalina | 
| Family: | Ljungman, 1867 | 
| Genera | |
| See text | |
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).[1]
Systematics and phylogeny
The family is divided into the following genera:[2]
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Fossil record of Gorgonocephalidae dates back to Miocene.[3]
References
- ^ Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, vol 1, Gale Cengage 2003
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Gorgonocephalidae Ljungman, 1867". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ Kroh, A. 2003. First record of gorgonocephalid ophiuroids (Echinodermata) from the Middle Miocene of the Central Paratethys. Cainozoic Research 2: 143-155