Family ECHINOTHURIIDAE

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Introduction

The family Echinothuriidae is widespread in all oceans. There are eight extant genera, five of which are recorded in Australian waters, represented by eleven species.

Echinothuriid species are distinguished within the order Echinothurioida by the following combination of character states: test low, hemispherical and flexible, with imbricating plates or interstitial membranous junctions; usually flattened, pancake-like when preserved; peristome plated, peristomial ambulacral plates simple, ambulacral plates of test trigeminate; pedicellariae include dactylous types, adoral spines with terminal expansion termed a 'hoof', teeth with rounded tip; lantern similar to Diadematidae but pyramids with shallow foramen magnum.

General References

Fell, H.B. 1966. Echinozoa: Diadematacea. pp. U340-U366a, figs 255-271 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.

Mortensen, T. 1935. A Monograph of the Echinoidea. II. Bothriocidaroida, Melonechinoida, Lepidocentroida and Stirodonta. Copenhagen : C.A. Reitzel 647 pp. 377 figs 89 pls.

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