An exceptionally well-preserved starfish fauna (Asteroidea, Echinodermata) from the Early Miocene of southeastern France

A new starfish fauna from the Late Burdigalian (Early Miocene) of the Apt basin (Rhodano-Provençal gulf, southeastern France) is described here. This new starfish fauna comes from accumulation levels of marine invertebrates, including exceptionally well-preserved pectinid bivalves and echinoderms. Among the echinoderms, the sea urchins are the most abundant, closely followed by the starfish. This is the first time the starfish fauna is being studied in detail. Here are described twelve additional specimens of Lacosteaster lauerorum Gale & Ward, 2024 (Solasteridae, Valvatida) with the first description of the abactinal face of the species, an undetermined species of Astropecten (Astropectinidae, Paxillosida), and two new genera and species: Cruciformaster pedicellarius gen. nov. et sp. nov . (Oreasteridae, Valvatida) and Menerbesaster bongrainae gen. nov. et sp. nov . (Echinasteridae, Spinulosida).