Family HIMEROMETRIDAE

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Introduction

Himerometridae are a family of six Recent genera known from the tropical Indo-west Pacific region. Four genera are recorded in Australian waters, represented by nine species.

This family is distinguished from other comatulid crinoids by the following combination of character states: arms ten or more; IBr united by synarthry; dorsal surface of cirrus segments with median prominence if any; distal pinnules flexible; pinnule combs absent; second brachial syzygy further out than 9+10, brachials distinctly wider than long at least proximally; if more than ten arms, then external IIBr series at least are of four ossicles.

General References

Clark, A.H. 1941. A monograph of the existing crinoids. Vol. 1. The comatulids. Part 4a.— Superfamily Mariametrida (except the family Colobometridae). Bulletin of the United States National Museum 82: 1-603 pls 1-61

Clark, A.M. & Rowe, F.W.E. 1971. Monograph of Shallow-water Indo-west Pacific Echinoderms. London : Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History) 238 pp. 100 figs 31 pls.

Rasmussen, H.W. & Sieverts-Doreck, H. 1978. Articulata. pp. T813-T1027, figs 549-619 in Moore, R.C. & Teichert, C. (eds). Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Part T. Echinodermata 2. Crinoidea. Kansas : Geological Society of America and University of Kansas Press Vol. 3.

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