The Astropectinidae are a family of sea stars in the order Paxillosida. The starfish are usually found living on the seabed, where they are often partially buried in soft sediment such as sand and mud.
They are not to be confused with species in the genus Archaster, which share similar shape and life habits, but belong to the family Archasteridae (order Valvatida) and can be readily identified by their tube feet having suckers instead of lacking them as in the Astropectinidae.
Genera There are 27 genera in the family: Astromesites Fisher, 1913 Astropecten Gray, 1840 Astropectinides Verrill, 1914 Bathybiaster Danielssen & Koren, 1883 Blakiaster Perrier, 1881 Bollonaster McKnight, 1977 Bunodaster Verrill, 1909 Craspidaster Sladen, 1889 Ctenophoraster Fisher, 1906 Ctenopleura Fisher, 1913 Dipsacaster Alcock, 1893 Dytaster Sladen, 1889 Koremaster Fisher, 1913 Leptychaster E.A. Smith, 1876 Lonchotaster Sladen, 1889 Macroptychaster H.E.S. Clark, 1963 Mimastrella Fisher, 1916 Patagiaster Fisher, 1906 Persephonaster Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891 Pentasteria Valette, 1929 Plutonaster Sladen, 1889 Proserpinaster Fell, 1963 Psilaster Sladen, 1885 Tethyaster Sladen, 1889 Thrissacanthias Fisher, 1910 Tritonaster Fisher, 1906 Trophodiscus Fisher, 1917
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