Initial phylogeny of the Comasteridae (Crinoidea) from mtDNA sequences

The crinoid family Comasteridae has undergone several revisions based on morphological characters. No studies, however, have employed DNA sequence data to generate a phylogenetic hypothesis for the group. To clarify both monophyletic clades and generic interrelationships, DNA was obtained from 30 taxa and approximately 590 base pairs were sequenced from near the 3’ terminus of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene. The results of our analyses support the majority of current generic designations although a small number of genera do emerge as para- or polyphyletic. Intergeneric relationships are less clear though strong support for several sister clade relationships is evident.