Poraniidae Explained

Poraniidae is a family of starfishes in the order Valvatida.

Characteristics

Members of the family Poraniidae have a moderately well-developed row of marginal plates forming a distinct margin along the edge of both disc and arms. The aboral surface is covered with thick, naked skin, free from spines or pedicellariae but with scattered groups of papulae. There are no papulae or pedicellariae on the oral surface and the tube feet are always in two series.^[1]

Genera

This family includes the following genera according to the World Register of Marine Species:

• Bathyporania Mah & Foltz, 2014
• Chondraster Verrill, 1895
• Clavaporania Mah & Foltz, 2014
• Culcitopsis Verrill, 1914
• Glabraster A.H. Clark, 1916
• Marginaster Perrier, 1881
• Porania Gray, 1840
• Poraniomorpha Danielssen & Koren, 1881
• Poraniopsis Perrier, 1891
• Spoladaster Fisher, 1940
• Tylaster Danielssen & Koren, 1881

References

• Mah . Christopher L. . Foltz . David W. . May 2014 . New taxa and taxonomic revisions to the Poraniidae (Valvatacea; Asteroidea) with Comments on Feeding Biology . Zootaxa . 3795 . 3 . 327–372 . 10.11646/zootaxa.3795.3.7 . 24870481 . 10 August 2018.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Family Poraniidae . Macrobenthos of the North Sea: Echinodermata . Marine Species Identification Portal . 2013-11-06.