Loveniidae


Loveniidae is a family of heart urchins in the order Spatangoida.

Description and characteristics

These sea urchins are called "heart urchins" due to the specific shape of their test, looking like a heart when seen from below. The mouth is located between the two cheeks, and the anus is below the tip.

Genera

According to the World Register of Marine Species:
  • genus Araeolampas Serafy, 1974
  • genus Atelospatangus Koch, 1885 †
  • genus Breynia Desor, in Agassiz & Desor, 1847
  • genus Chuniola Gagel, 1903 †
  • subfamily Echinocardiinae Cooke, 1942
  • * genus Echinocardium Gray, 1825
  • genus Gualtieria Desor, in Agassiz & Desor, 1847 †
  • genus Hemipatagus Desor, 1858 †
  • genus Laevipatagus Noetling, 1885 †
  • genus Lovenia Desor, in Agassiz & Desor, 1847
  • genus Pseudolovenia A. Agassiz & H.L. Clark, 1907b
  • genus Semipetalion Szörényi, 1963 †
  • genus Spatangomorpha Boehm, 1882 †