Gorgonocephalus

Gorgonocephalus
Gorgonocephalus eucnemis
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Ophiuroidea
Order: Phrynophiurida
Family: Gorgonocephalidae
Subfamily: Gorgonocephalinae
Genus: Gorgonocephalus
Leach, 1815
Species

See text

Gorgon's heads or Gorgon's head basket stars (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.