Three new sea stars of the suborder Cribellosa
Lethmaster rhipidophorus gen. et sp. nov.,
Porcellanaster ivanovi, and
Vitjazaster djakonovi gen. et sp. nov., are described from the northern and western parts of the Pacific Ocean from depths of 4550-7600 m. A new family Lethmasteridae is established. This family is characterised by more primitive structural features (absence of ventrolateral plates and a single cribiform organ in the madreporic interradius) than the family Porcellanasteridae and should be placed at the base of the stem of the suborder Cribellosa. The basic trends of evolution and phylogenetic relationships within the suborder Cribellosa are discussed.
