| Kantharella | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Dicyemida |
| Class: | Rhombozoa |
| Family: | Kantharellidae Czaker, 1994 |
| Genus: | Kantharella Czaker, 1994 |
Kantharellidae is a family ofworms belonging to the classRhombozoa, order unassigned. The family consists of only one genus:KantharellaCzaker, 1994.[1] The only species in the genus isKantharella antarctica.[2] This species is most closely related to other species of the orderDicyemida, which only has one other family,Dicyemidae.[3]
Kantharella is characterized by species that are parasitic endosymbiotes[4] and live within renal sacs of species of cephalopods.[5] They consist of only about 30 cells and they feed off of nutrients in the urine of cephalopods.[5]
The genus contains only one speciesKantharella antarctica and is the only member of the familyKatharellidae.[6]Katharellidae is one of three members of the orderDicyemids which also includesDicyemidae andConocyemidae.[6]
Kantharella are bilaterally symmetrical with a vermiform body shape.[7] They are carnivores that utilize their cephalopod hosts for nutrition.[7] They exclusively live in the ocean and reproduce asexually.[7]
The parasitic nature ofKantharella is a trait that evolved significantly long ago as all species within the class Rhomobozoa, also known as Dicyemida, are parasites.[8] There is debate to which species are closest living relatives toKantharella as there is molecular phylogenies supporting differing species.[8] They have been found to share genetic similarities with roundworms as well as species in the phylum Orthonectida.[8]
_silhouette.svg) | Thisprotostome-related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |