Family OREASTERIDAE

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Introduction

Oreasteridae are a tropical to temperate family of 19 genera. Fifteen genera are recorded in Australian waters, represented by 54 species.

This family is distinguished from others within the order Valvatida by the following combination of character states: arms, five; body large, form stellate or pentagonal; aboral skeleton reticulate with secondary plates linking primaries and leaving conspicuous papular areas between; marginal plates well developed but not always conspicuous; no actinal papulae, interbrachial septum calcareous; tube feet with spicules in wall and terminal disc.

General References

Blake, D.B. 1987. A classification and phylogeny of post-Palaeozoic sea-stars (Asteroidea: Echinodermata). Journal of Natural History 21: 481-528

Döderlein, L. 1916. Über die Gattung Oreaster und Verwandte. Zoologische Jahrbücher Syst. 40(5): 409-440 figs A-S

Döderlein, L. 1935. Die Asteriden der Siboga Expedition. III. Oreasteridae. Siboga-Expéditie Report 46(3): 71-110 pls 20-27

Döderlein, L. 1936. Die Asteriden der Siboga Expedition. III. Die Unterfamilie Oreasterinae. Siboga-Expéditie Report 46(c): 295-369 pls 21-32

Fisher, W.K. 1911. Asteroidea of the North Pacific and adjacent waters. Part 1. Phanerozonia and Spinulosa. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 76: 1-419 pls 1-120

Spencer, W.K. & Wright, C.W. 1966. Asterozoans. pp. U4-U107 figs 1-89 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. 1.

Zeidler, W. & Rowe, F.W.E. 1986. A revision of the southern Australian starfish genus Nectria (Asteroidea: Oreasteridae), with the description of a new species. Records of the South Australian Museum (Adelaide) 19(9): 117-138 figs 1-14

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