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Helianthasteridae
Taxonomy
Helianthasteridae was named by Owen (1965). Its type is Helianthaster. It was considered monophyletic by Gale (1987) and Blake (2009).
It was synonymized subjectively with Lepidasteridae by Schuchert (1915).
It was assigned to Gnathasterina by Owen (1965); to Eugnathina by Spencer and Wright (1966) and Welsh (1984); to Forcipulatida by Gale (1987); to Hemizonida by Blake (1989); to Asteroidea by Blake (2009); and to Euaxosida by Blake (2018).
It was synonymized subjectively with Lepidasteridae by Schuchert (1915).
It was assigned to Gnathasterina by Owen (1965); to Eugnathina by Spencer and Wright (1966) and Welsh (1984); to Forcipulatida by Gale (1987); to Hemizonida by Blake (1989); to Asteroidea by Blake (2009); and to Euaxosida by Blake (2018).
Subtaxa
Synonymy list
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If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.
Fm. †Helianthasteridae Owen 1965
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Invalid names: Helianthasterinae Gregory 1899 [empty]
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| D. B. Blake 2009 | Large, multiarmed asteroids of low body profile; disk small to large, arms straight-sided, tapering to pointed tips. Interbrachial angles tightly rounded but not angular. Dorsal skeleton reduced, primary ossicles delicate, platelike. Madreporite large, dorsal. Marginals in a single robust series in interbrachia but probably absent from arms; actinals robust, axillary not recognized. Ambulacrals platelike, articular facets (e.g. cross furrow; between longitudinally successive ambulacrals; between ambulacrals, adambulacrals) robust. Adambulacrals robust, platelike; exposed ventral expression of adambulacrals T-shaped, dorsal portion of ossicle internal in life, roofing ampullae. Circumorals similar to subsequent ambulacrals. MAO large, narrow, bladelike. Accessory granules, pedicellariae, spines abundant. |