A Review of the Class Stenuroidea (Echinodermata: Asterozoa) - BAP #409
The Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, and Stenuroidea are the derived classes of the subphylum Asterozoa, the class Somasteroidea stemward within the subphylum. The Stenuroidea, originally recognized at the ordinal level and assigned to the Ophiuroidea, was judged unique and therefore cannot be subsumed within the Ophiuroidea and has been separated at the class level.
To place the Stenuroidea in context, the concept of the subphylum Asterozoa is surveyed along with concepts of those early echinoderm groups that have been the preferred subphylum outgroup candidates. Because a phylogenetic analysis failed to yield clear stenuroid clustering between the class and generic levels, intermediate taxonomic categories remain problematic. Eight available familial names are retained and the new families Hystrigasteridae, Stuertzasteridae, Erinaceasteridae, and Ptilonasteridae are recognized. The eighteen known stenuroid genera are reviewed.
Daniel B. Blake
Pages: 110
Issue: BAP 409
Year published: 2024