Xyloplax

Sea daisy

Sea daisy

Genus of echinoderms

For the plant, see Melanthera biflora.

Sea daisies (infraclass Concentricycloidea; order Peripodida) make up an unusual group of deep-sea taxa belonging to the phylum Echinodermata, with three species described in the genus Xyloplax. Intestine and anus are absent.

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Distribution

Sea daisies have been discovered in three localities, including deep-sea habitats off New Zealand, the Bahamas and most recently from the northern central Pacific. They have been collected primarily from sunken, deep-sea (1000+ meters) wood. Although known from only a handful of specimens initially, many specimens have now been collected from the Bahamas.

Classification

Since they were discovered in 1986, their position within the echinoderms has been debated. At first they were placed in a new class, Concentricycloidea, since it was unclear whether they might have affinities with asteroids or ophiuroids. The former view gained acceptance, and since 2006, they are currently considered a sister group to the Infraclass Neoasteroidea, which represents all post-Paleozoic asteroids within the Class Asteroidea.

Class Asteroidea, Infraclass Concentricycloidea, Order Peripoda (or Peripodida), Family Xyloplacidae

References

Wikispecies has information related to Peripoda.
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