Family Asteronychidae Ljungman, 1867

Type genus

Asteronyx Müller & Troschel, 1842 ( type species: A. loveni Müller & Troschel, 1842).

Other genera

Astrodia Verrill, 1899b, Astronebris Downey, 1967, Ophioschiza H.L. Clark, 1911.

Diagnosis

Dorsal disc with thickened skin, few or no scales, radial shields bar-like, almost meeting in disc centre. Long, tapering arms, covered by thickened skin, lacking dorsal plates. Multiple columns of spiniform teeth, dental plate entire. Arms not branching. All vertebrae without oral bridge. Gonads restricted to disc. Arm spine articulation as slightly tumid regular stereom with large oval or round opening.