Family Ophiothamnidae fam. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CD418837-0D1F-47AF-BF52-C7BC76C67EFC

Type genus

Ophiothamnus Lyman, 1869 (type species: O. vicarius Lyman, 1869).

Other genera

Histampica A.M. Clark, 1970, Ophioleila A.H. Clark, 1949 .

Diagnosis

Dorsal disc with pointed spines ( Ophiothamnus), naked scales ( Histampica), or thorny spines ( Ophioleila). Radial shields large. Infradental papillae small, distal lateral papilla at adoral shield edge widened in Ophiothamnus . Arm spine articulations with two smooth, slightly diverging ridges, not connected. Muscle and nerve openings separated by smooth bridge.