Diagnosis: Calcareous deposits in the form of anchors or anchor plates. Tentacle stalk cylindrical or terete, not becoming widened distally, either with digits along each side for most of its length (pinnate), or with only one or two digits along each side near the tip (digitate).

Remarks: This widespread family is mostly of shallow-water distribution, but some species of the genus Protankyra are known from great depths. In the New Zealand region two species of Protankyra are known, of which one, P. rigida Pawson, has been collected from the bathyal zone.