Family SALENIIDAE

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Introduction

Two extant genera in the Saleniidae are recorded worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. One species is now recorded in Australian waters.

The Saleniidae, which share the stirodont lantern form with the Acrosaleniidae, the only other family in the order Salenioida, are distinguished by the following combination of characters: primary tubercles imperforate and crenulate; primary spines long and slender, spinulose; sphaeridia present; tridentate, triphyllous and ophicephalous pedicellariae present; test diameter small (‹15 mm h.d., exceptionally to 45 mm).

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.

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

Smith, A.B. & Wright, C.W. 1990. British Cretaceous Echinoids. Part 2. Echinothurioida, Diadematoida and Stirodonta (1 Calycina). Monogr. Palaeontogr. Soc. London pp. 101–198 pls 33–72 (Publn No. 583, part of Vol. 143 for 1989).

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