Family ARBACIIDAE

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Introduction

Eight living genera are recorded worldwide in the cosmopolitan family Arbaciidae, including one from Australian waters, represented by two species.

This family is distinguished from others in the order Phymostomatoida by the following combination of character states: lantern as in Stomopneustidae (stirodont-type); ambulacra invariably including some compound plates of arbacioid type; simple plates, if present, restricted to adapical or adoral extremities; primary tubercles imperforate, noncrenulate; epistroma commonly present, simulating tubercles, but not carrying spines; periproct covered by four or five conspicuous, triangular, valve-like anal plates; primary spines with more or less development of cortex, usually smooth; secondary spines poorly developed or lacking.

General References

Fell, H.B. & Pawson, D.L. 1966. Echinozoa: Echinacea. pp. U367-U440 figs 272-328 in Moore, R.C. (ed.). Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Part U. Echinodermata. 3. Asterozoa-Echinozoa. Kansas : Geological Society of America and University of Kansas Press Vol. 2.

Philip, G.M. 1965. The Tertiary echinoids of South-eastern Australia. III. Stirodonta, Aulodonta, and Camarodonta (1). Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 78(2): 181-196 pls 26-29

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