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 | |
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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.