The Forcipulatida are an
order of
sea stars, containing three families and 49
genera.
Description
Forcipulatids share with the
brisingid sea stars distinctive
pedicellariae, consisting of a short stalk with three skeletal
ossicles. Unlike that group, however, the forcipulatids tend to have more robust bodies.[1] The order includes some well-known species, such as the
common starfish, Asterias rubens. This order can be commonly found from North Carolina in the United States all the way to Santos in Brazil.[2]
^Barnes, Robert D. (1982). Invertebrate Zoology. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. p. 948.
ISBN0-03-056747-5.
^Pazoto, C. P., Ventura, C., Duarte, M., & Silva, E. (2018). Genetic variation and population homogeneity of the sea star Coscinasterias tenuispina (Forcipulatida: ASTEROIDEA) on the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research, 46(2), 355-363. doi:10.3856/vol46-issue2-fulltext-11
^McKnight, D.G. (2006). Marine Fauna of New Zealand: Echinodermata: Asteroidea (sea-stars). 3. Orders Velatida, Spinulosida, Forcipulatida, Brisingida with addenda to Paxillosida, Valvatida. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 120: 1-187.
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Mah, C. & D. Foltz. (2011). Molecular Phylogeny of the Forcipulatacea (Asteroidea: Echinodermata): systematics and biogeography. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 162(3): 646-660
Sladen, W.P. (1889). Report on the Asteroidea. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873-1876, Zoology 30(51): xlii + 893 pages 118 plates.