Synonym: Aspidosomatidae Gregory 1899 [objective synonym]
Full reference: C. Schuchert. 1914. Fossilium Catalogus. 1: Animalia, pars 3, Stelleroidea palaeozoica. W. Junk, Berlin 1-53
Parent taxon: Ophiuroidea according to J. Dean Shackleton 2005
See also Harper and Morris 1978, Jell 1997, Jell and Theron 1999, Owen 1965, Schuchert 1915 and Spencer and Wright 1966
Sister taxa: Ankhurida, Ataxaster, Calclyra, Calclyridae, Calyptactis, Euzonosomatidae, Hallasteridae, Lumectaster, Muldaster, Myophiuridadup, Nodolanx, Oegophiurida, Oegophiuridea, Oegophiuroida, Ophiaulaxoides, Ophioma, Ophiopetagno, Ophiotrigonum, Ophiurella, Ophiuridea, Phrynophiurida, Stenasteridae, Zygophiurae
Subtaxa: Armathyrasterinae Cheiropteraster Encrinaster Encrinasterinae Euzonosoma Loriolaster Mastigactis Urozoma
Type: Encrinaster
Ecology: slow-moving low-level epifaunal detritivore-suspension feeder
Distribution:
• Carboniferous of United States (1: Pennsylvania collection)
• Devonian of Argentina (1), Australia (1), Brazil (10), Germany (1), South Africa (5), United States (1: New York), Uruguay (1)
• Silurian of Australia (2), Ireland (1), the United Kingdom (3)
• Ordovician of the United Kingdom (1)
Total: 28 collections including 34 occurrences