Goniasteridae

Goniasteridae; Temporal range: 182–Recent Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Pentagonaster duebeni
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Asteroidea
Order:	Valvatida
Family:	Goniasteridae; Forbes, 1841
Genera
	See text

Goniasteridae (the biscuit stars) constitute the largest family of sea stars, included in the order Valvatida. They are mostly deep-dwelling species, but the family also include several colorful shallow tropical species.

Description[edit]

Goniasteridae are usually middle-sized sea stars with a characteristic double range of marginal plates bordering the disk and arms. Most of them have five arms, often short and triangular, around a broad central disc; many species are pentagonal or subpentagonal, covered densely with granular, seed-like protuberances, hence the name of the family "seed-star" (gonium+aster). The aboral face is often covered with tiny spines looking like paxillae. Pedicellariae are often valvate, and the gonads are located at the interradius.^[1]

Main identification keys for this group include the presence of paxillae, granules, teeth, spines, or the shape and dimensions of marginal plate.^[2]

Location and habitat[edit]

They occur predominantly on deep-water continental shelf habitats (but a part of them inhabit shallow waters)^[3] in all the world's oceans, being the most diverse in the Indo-Pacific region.^[4]

List of genera[edit]

About 260 extant species within 70 genera are currently known, which make this family the most diverse of all the sea stars,^[5] even if half of the genera are monospecific. Species belonging to the Ferdininae subfamily have been imported from Ophidiasteridae thanks to a large revision of these two families in 2017^[6]

According to World Register of Marine Species, this family includes the following genera:^[7]

genus Anthenoides Perrier, 1881 -- 10 species
genus Apollonaster Halpern, 1970 -- 2 species
genus Astroceramus Fisher, 1906 -- 9 species
genus Astropatricia McKnight, 2006 -- 1 species
genus Astrothauma Fisher, 1913 -- 1 species
genus Atelorias Fisher, 1911 -- 1 species
genus Bathyceramaster Mah, 2016 -- 2 species
genus Calliaster Gray, 1840 -- 12 species
genus Calliderma Gray, 1847 -- 1 species
genus Ceramaster Verrill, 1899 -- 18 species
genus Chitonaster Sladen, 1889 -- 4 species
genus Circeaster Koehler, 1909 -- 9 species
genus Cladaster Verrill, 1899 -- 4 species
genus Diplasiaster Halpern, 1970 -- 1 species
genus Enigmaster McKnight & H.E.S. Clark, 1996 -- 1 species
genus Eratosaster Mah, 2011 -- 1 species
subfamily Ferdininae Mah 2017
- genus Bathyferdina Mah 2017 -- 1 species
- genus Eosaster Mah, 2017 -- 1 species
- genus Ferdina Gray, 1840 -- 3 species
- genus Kanakaster Mah, 2017 -- 6 species
- genus Neoferdina Livingstone, 1931 -- 12 species
- genus Paraferdina James, 1973 -- 3 species
genus Floriaster Downey, 1980 -- 1 species
genus Fromia Gray, 1840 -- 16 species
genus Gigantaster Döderlein, 1924 -- 1 species
genus Glyphodiscus Fisher, 1917 -- 3 species
genus Goniaster L. Agassiz, 1836 -- 1 species
subfamily Hippasterinae
- genus Evoplosoma Fisher, 1906 -- 8 species
- genus Gilbertaster Fisher, 1906 -- 2 species
- genus Hippasteria Gray, 1840 -- 11 species
- genus Sthenaster Mah, Nizinski & Lundsten, 2010 -- 1 species
genus Iconaster Sladen, 1889 -- 4 species
genus Johannaster Koehler, 1909 -- 1 species
genus Kermitaster H.E.S. Clark, 2001 -- 1 species
genus Lithosoma Fisher, 1911 -- 6 species
genus Litonotaster Verrill, 1899 -- 4 species
genus Lydiaster Koehler, 1909 -- 1 species
genus Mabahissaster Macan, 1938 -- 1 species
genus Mariaster A.H. Clark, 1916 -- 1 species
genus Mediaster Stimpson, 1857 -- 17 species
genus Milteliphaster Alcock, 1893 -- 2 species
genus Nectria Gray, 1840 -- 8 species
genus Neoferdina Livingstone, 1931 -- 6 species
genus Notioceramus Fisher, 1940 -- 1 species
genus Nymphaster Sladen, 1889 -- 16 species
genus Ogmaster von Martens, 1865 -- 1 species
genus Peltaster Verrill, 1899 -- 3 species
subfamily Pentagonasterinae Perrier
- genus Akelbaster Mah, 2007 -- 1 species
- genus Anchitosia Mah, 2007 -- 1 species
- genus Eknomiaster HES Clark in HES Clark & D.G. McKnight, 2001 -- 2 species
- genus Pawsonaster Mah, 2007 -- 1 species
- genus Pentagonaster Gray, 1840 -- 5 species
- genus Ryukuaster Mah, 2007 -- 1 species
- genus Toraster A.M. Clark, 1952 -- 1 species
- genus Tosia Gray, 1840 -- 3 species
genus Pergamaster Koehler, 1920 -- 2 species
genus Pillsburiaster Halpern, 1970 -- 7 species
genus Plinthaster Verrill, 1899 -- 5 species
genus Pontioceramus Fisher, 1911 -- 1 species
genus Progoniaster Döderlein, 1924 -- 1 species
genus Pseudoceramaster Jangoux, 1981 -- 2 species
genus Pseudogoniodiscaster Livingstone, 1930 -- 1 species
genus Rosaster Perrier, 1894 -- 11 species
genus Sibogaster Döderlein, 1924 -- 2 species
genus Siraster H.L. Clark, 1915 -- 1 species
genus Sphaeriodiscus Fisher, 1910 -- 7 species
genus Stellaster Gray, 1840 -- 7 species
genus Stellasteropsis Dollfus, 1936 -- 3 species
genus Styphlaster H.L. Clark, 1938 -- 1 species
genus Tessellaster H.L. Clark, 1941 -- 1 species