This family, usually regarded as transitional between the Pterasteridae and the Solasteridae, has not hitherto been recorded from Australasian seas. It may briefly be characterized as follows:

Abactinal side with paxillae formed by very long spines not covered by a supradorsal membrane. No actinolateral membrane. Marginal paxillae not enlarged. No oral interradial plates. Spines of the adambulacrals forming together with those of the lower marginals a single transverse series, not united in a web. Usually five-rayed.