The Astropectinidae are a family of sea stars in the order Paxillosida. Usually, these starfish live on the seabed and immerse themselves 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).

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

References