Family PHYLLOPHORIDAE

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Introduction

The family Phyllophoridae is widespread throughout the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, with about 24 genera known, eight of which occur in Australia. Twenty-four species are recorded in Australian waters.

The family is distinguished from other families in the order Dendrochirotida by the following set of character states: tentacles 10–25, calcareous ring with compound bifurcate prolongations on the radial plates or ring complex, polyplated and tubular, the radial and interradial plates composed of a mosaic of pieces; ossicles in the body wall usually include tables with four pillars, occasionally nodular buttons or fenestrated ellipsoids.

O’Loughlin et al. (2012) reviewed the group for southern Australia.

General References

Heding, S.G. & Panning, A. 1954. Phyllophoridae. Eine Bearbeitung der polytentaculaten dendrochiroten Holothurien des Zoologischen Museums in Kopenhagen. Spolia Zoologica Musei Hauniensis 13: 1-209 figs 1-102

O'Loughlin, P.M., Barmos, S. & VandenSpiegel, D. 2012. The phyllophorid sea cucumbers of southern Australia (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida: Phyllophoridae). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 69: 269–308

Panning, A. 1949. Versuch einer Neuordnung der Familie Cucumariidae. Zoologische Jahrbücher 78: 404-470 figs 1-62

Pawson, D.L. & Fell, H.B. 1965. A revised classification of the dendrochirote holothurians. Breviora. Museum of Comparative Zoology 214: 1-7

History of changes