Superorder Forcipulatacea Higher classification Forcipulatacea | Scientific name Forcipulatida Rank Order | |
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Lower classifications Asteriidae, Asterias, Pisaster, Pycnopodia | ||
The Forcipulatida are an order of sea stars, containing three families and 49 genera.
Contents
Description
Forcipulatids share with the brisingid sea stars distinctive pedicellariae, consisting of a short stalk with three skeletal ossicles. Unlike that group, however, the forcipulatids tend to have more robust bodies. The order includes some well-known species, such as the common starfish, Asterias rubens.
Phylogeny
The order is divided into three families:
World Register of Marine Species gives another taxonomy:
References
Forcipulatida Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA