Gorgonocephalidae is a family of basket stars. They have characteristic many-branched arms.

Gorgonocephalidae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Ophiuroidea
Order: Phrynophiurida
Suborder: Euryalina
Family: Gorgonocephalidae
Ljungman, 1867
Genera

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Arms of Astroboa nuda

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

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The family is divided into the following genera:[2]

Fossil record of Gorgonocephalidae dates back to Miocene.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, vol 1, Gale Cengage 2003
  2. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Gorgonocephalidae Ljungman, 1867". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  3. ^ Kroh, A. 2003. First record of gorgonocephalid ophiuroids (Echinodermata) from the Middle Miocene of the Central Paratethys. Cainozoic Research 2: 143-155