The classification of echinoderms at class-rank and higher has been a topic of considerable dispute for well over a century. We will confine our analysis to the more ‘modern’ classification schemes which have advocates among currently active paleontologists and neontologists, in particular those of Bather/Lankester, 1900; and Fell/Moore 1966 (Figs. 1 and 2). Detailed explanations of these schemes may be found in most major works on invertebrate paleontology and neontology. Comparisons of other schemes are given in Tables 1 and 2.