In this article we are going to address the topic of Ascothoracida in a complete and detailed manner, with the aim of providing the reader with a deep and updated vision on this topic. From its origins to its evolution today, through its main characteristics, applications and possible impacts in different areas. Ascothoracida is a topic of great relevance today, which not only arouses interest in experts and specialists, but also in a general public eager for knowledge. Therefore, in the following lines we will delve into its different aspects to offer an enriching and contextualized perspective on Ascothoracida.
| Ascothoracida | |
|---|---|
| A member of the Dendrogaster genus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Thecostraca |
| Subclass: | Ascothoracida Lacaze-Duthiers, 1880 [1] |
| Orders and families [2] | |
|
Dendrogastrida Grygier, 1987
Laurida Grygier, 1987
| |
Ascothoracida is a small group of parasitic marine crustaceans, comprising around 100 species and divided into Dendrogastrida and Laurida.[3] They are found throughout the world on cnidarians and echinoderms.[4] Dendrogastrida are parasites on echinoderms, and Laurida are parasites on cnidarians, except from the species Waginella Grygier, which is also a parasite on echinoderms (crinoids). Piercing and sucking mouthparts are used for feeding, and more advanced forms also absorb nutrients through a modified integument of the carapace. More basal forms are ectoparasitic, but most genera are meso- and endoparasitic. The sexes are separate, except from secondary hermaphroditic species of the Petrarcidae. In many species the larger female often have smaller males living inside her mantle cavity.[5][6]
Ascothoracida was previously ranked as an order within the infraclass Cirripedia (barnacles), but now both Ascothoracida and Cirripedia are considered separate subclasses. Those two subclasses, along with Facetotecta, make up the class Thecostraca.[2][7][8]
The thorax of Ascothoracida species has six pair of biramous appendages, while the abdomen has four segments and a terminal telson with a caudal furca.[9] This arrangement is similar to that seen in copepods.[9] In addition, there is a bivalved carapace, which is expanded in females.[9]