Comatulidae is a family of comatulid crinoids. Since 2015, it replaces the family Comasteridae.
Description and characteristics
This family is of recent restoration, and still has no consensual description. However the description of the family Comasteridae remains partially valid.
This family counts between 93 and 95 species, distributed in 21 genera, which makes it the second most diversified family of crinoids the behind Antedonidae, representing approximately 1/6th of known crinoid species. It contains most of the big species of shallow tropical feather stars, in particular in the Indo-Pacific.
This family has been recently restaured following genetic works from Charles Messing's team.
It contains the following genera:
sub-family Comatellinae Summers, Messing, Rouse, 2014
genus Alloeocomatella Messing, 1995 -- 2 species
genus Comatella AH Clark, 1908 -- 2 species
genus Davidaster Hoggett & Rowe, 1986 -- 2 species
genus Nemaster AH Clark, 1909 -- 1 species
genus Comatilia AH Clark, 1909 -- 1 species
genus Comatulides AH Clark, 1918 -- 1 species
sub-family Comatulinae Fleming, 1828
Tribe Capillasterini AH Clark, 1909
genus Capillaster AH Clark, 1909 -- 8 species
Tribe Comasterini AH Clark, 1908
genus Anneissia Summers, Messing, Rouse, 2014 -- 8 species
genus Cenolia AH Clark, 1916 -- 6 species
genus Clarkcomanthus Rowe, Hoggett, Birtles & Vail, 1986 -- 9 species
genus Comanthus AH Clark, 1908 -- 11 species
genus Comaster L. Agassiz, 1836 -- 4 species
Tribe Comatulini Fleming, 1828
genus Comactinia AH Clark, 1909 -- 3 species
genus Comatula Lamarck, 1816 -- 7 species
Tribe Neocomatellini Summers, Messing, Rouse, 2014
genus Comatulella AH Clark, 1911 -- 1 species
genus Neocomatella AH Clark, 1909 -- 3 species
Tribe Phanogeniini White & Messing, 2001 (in White & al., 2001)
genus Aphanocomaster Messing, 1995 -- 1 species
genus Comissia Clark, 1909 -- 14 species
genus Phanogenia Lovén, 1866 -- 9 species
genus Palaeocomatella AH Clark, 1912 -- 3 species
genus Rowemissia Messing, 2001 -- 1 species
Comatulidae incertae sedis—6 species
