Phyllophorinae

Authority, Date

4 Genera, 1 monotypic; 31 species

Dendrochirote holothurians with 15-25 tentacles in many circles (10+5+5) or (15+5). The calcareous ring is fully reduced, but often has very short, forked tails, which are composed of many large regular pieces. The podia are commonly spread over the whole body. The calcareous bodies, when present, are either towers with four columns or derivatives of such columns or rosettes. Rosettes are generally in the introvert. (Heding & Panning, 1954)

Radial pieces of calcareous ring with moderately long posterior projections, which are divided into a few large elements. (Pawson, 1970)

Dendrochirotid holothurians with 15, 20, or 25 tentacles, usually 20 in two or three circle of 15+5 or 10+5+5 respectively. Pedicles generally distributed over entire body. Calcareous ring of 10 plates, either whole or compound, but never forming a tubular structure; posterior prolongations of radials compound, composed of a few large pieces. Spicules of body wall in the form of four-pillared tables or their derivatives, or rosettes; introvert with rosettes. (Thandar, 1990)