Ophiotrichidae

Ophiotrichidae
Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) foveolata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Subphylum: Eleutherozoa
Class: Ophiuroidea
Order: Ophiurida
Suborder: Ophiurina
Infraorder: Gnathophiurina
Family: Ophiotrichidae[1]
Ljungman, 1867
Genera

See text.

Ophiotrichidae are a family of ophiurid brittle stars within the infraorder Gnathophiurina.

All have arms with delicate translucent, thorny spines. The arms are flexible in all directions. The jaws contain clusters of well-developed tooth papillae on the apex but not on the sides. There are no mouth papillae. Inside the mouth edge there is a second pair of tube feet. They show large radial shields. The dorsal surface of the disc is covered with spines and thorny towers.

Systematics

Ophiotrichidae contains the following genera:[2]

References

  1. Hoggett, A.K., (1991). The genus Macrophiothrix (Ophiuroidae:Ophiotrichidae) in Australian waters. Invertebr. Taxon. 4:1077–1146.
  2. MarineSpecies.org - Ophiotrichidae Ljungman, 1867
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