Ophiolepididae
Encyclopedia
Ophiolepididae are a family
of brittle star
s of the suborder Ophiurina
. It includes both deep-sea and shallow-water species.
age of the Middle Triassic
. The family includes the following living genera:
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of brittle star
Brittle star
Brittle stars or ophiuroids are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea closely related to starfish. They crawl across the seafloor using their flexible arms for locomotion. The ophiuroids generally have five long slender, whip-like arms which may reach up to in length on the largest specimens...
s of the suborder Ophiurina
Ophiurina
Ophiurina are a suborder of brittle stars containing the majority of living brittle star species.-Systematics:There is currently no consensus as to the subdivision of the Ophiurina . It contains the genera Amphiura, Amphipholis, and Ophiacantha.The suborder has been divided into the following...
. It includes both deep-sea and shallow-water species.
Systematics and phylogeny
The fossils of Ophiolepididae date back to the AnisianAnisian
In the geologic timescale, the Anisian is the lower stage or earliest age of the Middle Triassic series or epoch and lasted from 245 million years ago until 237 million years ago, approximately...
age of the Middle Triassic
Middle Triassic
In the geologic timescale, the Middle Triassic is the second of three epochs of the Triassic period or the middle of three series in which the Triassic system is divided. It spans the time between 245 ± 1.5 Ma and 228 ± 2 Ma...
. The family includes the following living genera:
- Amphipholizona
- Aspidophiura
- Ophiolepis
- Ophiomaria
- Ophiomidas
- Ophiomusa
- Ophioplinthus
- Ophiothyreus
- Ophiotrochus
- Ophiozonoida
- Ophiuroconis
- Ophiurodon