Neognathostomata

Neognathostomata
Temporal range: Lower Jurassic–recent
Echinocyamus pusillus (Scutellina).
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Echinoidea
Superorder: Neognathostomata
Smith, 1981
Orders

Cassiduloida
Clypeasteroida
Echinolampadoida

The Neognathostomata are a superorder of sea urchins.

Description and characteristics

They are distinguished from other sea urchins by their irregular shape and a highly modified feeding lantern. The group includes the well known sand dollars, as well as some less familiar and extinct forms.

Taxonomy

Test of a Clypeaster reticulatus (Clypeasterina).
Mellita longifissa (Scutellina, "sand dollar").
Fossil of an Echinolampas hemisphaericus (Echinolampadoida).

References


    This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, December 04, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.