Sacculinidae
Encyclopedia
Sacculinidae is a family
of barnacle
s. They belong to the bizarre parasitic and highly apomorphic
superorder Rhizocephala
, and therein to the less diverse of the two orders
, the Kentrogonida. The Sacculinidae are one of the two larger families of Rhizocephala (which are both in the Kentrogonida), containing seven genera:
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of barnacle
Barnacle
A barnacle is a type of arthropod belonging to infraclass Cirripedia in the subphylum Crustacea, and is hence related to crabs and lobsters. Barnacles are exclusively marine, and tend to live in shallow and tidal waters, typically in erosive settings. They are sessile suspension feeders, and have...
s. They belong to the bizarre parasitic and highly apomorphic
Synapomorphy
In cladistics, a synapomorphy or synapomorphic character is a trait that is shared by two or more taxa and their most recent common ancestor, whose ancestor in turn does not possess the trait. A synapomorphy is thus an apomorphy visible in multiple taxa, where the trait in question originates in...
superorder Rhizocephala
Rhizocephala
Rhizocephala are derived barnacles that parasitise decapod crustaceans. Their bauplan is uniquely reduced in an extreme adaptation to their parasitic lifestyle, and makes their relationship to other barnacles unrecognisable in the adult form...
, and therein to the less diverse of the two orders
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
, the Kentrogonida. The Sacculinidae are one of the two larger families of Rhizocephala (which are both in the Kentrogonida), containing seven genera:
- Drepanorchis Boschma, 1927
- Heterosaccus Smith, 1906
- Loxothylacus Boschma, 1928
- Polyascus Glenner, Lützen & Takahashi, 2003
- Ptychascus Boschma, 1933
- SacculinaSacculinaSacculina is a genus of barnacles that is a parasitic castrator of crabs. The adults bear no resemblance to the barnacles that cover ships and piers; they are recognised as barnacles because their larval forms are like other members of the barnacle class Cirripedia...
Thompson, 1836 - Sesarmaxenos Annandale, 1911