[4] The taxonomy and phylogeny of species in the order Euryalida and class Ophiuroidea has been ambiguous and continues to be investigated.

However low relative co-occurrence ranges (4%-54%) suggest that soft corals are not a necessary basket star habitat.

[9] Basket stars have extensively branched arms made of a complex system of tissues and muscles.

[11] The genus Astrobrachion is set apart by having small ventral plates separated from the lateral arm by a supportive dermal tissue layer.

[7] Astrobrachion adhaerens has longitudinal stripes while its sister species A. constrictum has transverse color banding on the arms.

[8] Little is known of the reproductive system of A. adhaerens, but sexual characteristics are likely shared with closely related A. constrictum.