Astrochelidae Verrill, 1899a: 79.
Gorgonocephalus Leach, 1815 ( type species: G. caputmedusae ( Linnaeus, 1758)).
Asteroporpa Örstedt & Lütken, 1856, Astracme Döderlein, 1927, Astroboa Döderlein, 1911, Astrocaneum Döderlein, 1911, Astrochalcis Koehler, 1905, Astrochele Verrill, 1878, Astrochlamys Koehler, 1912, Astrocladus Verrill, 1899b, Astroclon Lyman, 1879, Astrocnida Lyman, 1872, Astrocrius Döderlein, 1927, Astrocyclus Döderlein, 1911, Astrodendrum Döderlein, 1911, Astrodictyum Döderlein, 1927, Astroglymma Döderlein, 1927, Astrogomphus Lyman, 1869, Astrogordius Döderlein, 1911, Astrohamma Döderlein, 1930, Astrohelix Döderlein, 1930, Astroniwa McKnight, 2000, Astrophyton Fleming, 1828, Astroplegma Döderlein, 1927, Astrosierra Baker, 1980, Astrospartus Döderlein, 1911, Astrothamnus Matsumoto, 1915, Astrothorax Döderlein, 1911, Astrothrombus H.L. Clark, 1909a, Astrotoma Lyman, 1875, Astrozona Döderlein, 1930, Conocladus H.L. Clark, 1909b, Ophiocrene Bell, 1894, Ophiozeta Koehler, 1930, Schizostella A.H. Clark, 1952.
Dorsal disc and arms with scales and plates, which bear thorny granules or spines. Girdles of small hyaline hooks on the arms. Arms branching or simple. All vertebrae without oral bridge. Gonads restricted to disc. Multiple teeth in irregular columns, dental plate entire. Arm spine articulation with slit-shaped muscle opening proximally bordered by vertical ridge, small nerve opening at a distance.