Gorgonocephalus | |
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Gorgonocephalus eucnemis | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Ophiuroidea |
Order: | Phrynophiurida |
Family: | Gorgonocephalidae |
Subfamily: | Gorgonocephalinae |
Genus: | Gorgonocephalus Leach, 1815 [1] |
Species | |
See text |
Gorgonocephalus is a genus of marine basket stars in the class Ophiuroidea. Members of this genus are found in coldwater environments including the Arctic, the Antarctic, and deep-sea habitats. The scientific name comes from the Greek, gorgós meaning "dreaded" and -cephalus meaning "head", and refers to the similarity between these echinoids and the Gorgon's head from Greek myth with its coiled serpents for hair.[2]