Ophiotrichidae | |
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Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) foveolata | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Ophiuroidea |
Order: | Ophiurida |
Suborder: | Gnathophiurina |
Superfamily: | Ophiactoidea |
Family: | Ophiotrichidae Ljungman, 1867 |
Genera | |
See text |
Ophiotrichidae are a family of brittle stars within the suborder Gnathophiurina.
All have arms with delicate translucent, thorny spines. The arms are flexible in all directions. The jaws contain clusters of well-developed tooth papillae on the apex but not on the sides. There are no mouth papillae. Inside the mouth edge there is a second pair of tube feet. They show large radial shields. The dorsal surface of the disc is covered with spines and thorny towers.
Ophiotrichidae contains the following genera:[1]