Alternative combination: Palaeaster shafferi
Full reference: J. Hall. 1868. Contributions to palaeontology. 12. Note on the genus Palaeaster and other fossil starfishes. Annual report of the Regents of the University of the State of New York on the State Cabinet of Natural History and the Historical and Antiquarian collection annexed thereto 20:282-303
Belongs to Mesopalaeaster according to C. Schuchert 1915
Sister taxa: Hudsonaster australis, Hudsonaster carectum, Hudsonaster incomptus, Hudsonaster matutinus, Hudsonaster milleri, Hudsonaster narrawayi, Hudsonaster ordovicus, Hudsonaster rugosus, Mesopalaeaster intermedius, Mesopalaeaster finei, Mesopalaeaster lanceolatus, Mesopalaeaster proavitus, Mesopalaeaster wilberanus, Mesopalaeaster dubius, Mesopalaeaster antiquus, Mesopalaeaster parviusculus, Mesopalaeaster cataractensis, Mesopalaeaster granti, Mesopalaeaster bellulus, Mesopalaeaster acuminatus, Mesopalaeaster clarki, Mesopalaeaster primus, Mesopalaeaster complicatus
Type specimen: Holotype AMNH 1195
Ecology: epifaunal detritivore