Molpadida

Haeckel, 1896

4 families; 11 genera, 2 monotypic; 94 species

Body thick, sausage-like, with a tail-like prolongation. Tube feet absent with the exception of 5 small papillae or groups of papillae around the anus. Tentacles simply finger shaped or feather shaped; tentacle ampullae may be present. Respiratory trees present. Retractor muscles may be present. Deposits calcareous plates often with a spire or an anchor, often small, claret colored or yellowish bodies (phosphatic concretions) are present. (Mortensen, 1927)

Body stout, tapering posteriorly to form a more or less conspicuous tail. Tentacles 15, digitate. Anal papillae, respiratory trees, tentacle ampullae, and anal papillae present. Radial muscles in form of double bands. Deposits commonly tables, fusiform rods, or perforated plates, anchors. Phosphatic bodies often present. (Pawson, 1970)

Body stout, tapering posteriorly to form more or less well defined tail. Tentacles, 15, digitate. Anal papillae, tentacle papillae, and respiratory trees present. Deposits commonly in form of tables, fusiform rods, or perforated plates. Anchors sometimes but never wheels and sigmoid hooks. Phosphatic deposits often present. Cosmopolitan. Jurassic - recent. (Pawson, 1977)