Family TEMNOPLEURIDAE

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Introduction

Temnopleurids are widespread in the Indo-west, central Pacific region. Twenty extant genera are known. Twelve of these are recorded in Australian waters, represented by thirty-two species.

This is the only family retained in the order Temnopleuroida and is distinguished from other echinoids by the following combination of character states: lantern camarodont-type; tubercles imperforate, usually crenulate; test generally sculptured conspicuously by ridges or depressions, or both; ambulacra invariably trigeminate; pores arranged monoserially or in several vertical series.

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. 1943. A Monograph of the Echinoidea. III (2). Camarodonta I. Orthopsidae, Glyphocyphidae, Temnopleuridae and Toxopneustidae. Copenhagen : C.A. Reitzel 553 pp. 321 figs 56 pls.

Smith, A. 1984. Echinoid Palaeobiology. London : George Allen & Unwin 190 pp. 80 figs.

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