Kantharella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Dicyemida
Class: Rhombozoa
Family: Kantharellidae
Czaker, 1994
Genus: Kantharella
Czaker, 1994

Kantharellidae is a family of worms belonging to the class Rhombozoa, order unassigned. The family consists of only one genus: Kantharella Czaker, 1994.[1] The only species in the genus is Kantharella antarctica.[2] This species is most closely related to other species of the order Dicyemida, 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]

Taxonomy

The genus contains only one species Kantharella antarctica and is the only member of the family Katharellidae.[6] Katharellidae is one of three members of the order Dicyemids which also includes Dicyemidae and Conocyemidae.[6]

Structure and Behavior

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]

Evolution

The parasitic nature of Kantharella 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 to Kantharella 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]

References

  1. ↑ "Kantharellidae". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "Explore the Taxonomic Tree Kantharella". www.fws.gov. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Explore the Taxonomic Tree Dicyemids". www.fws.gov. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Kantharella Czaker 1994". www.eol.org. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Highlight—Lessons on Parasitism from the Curious Dicyemida 1994". www.academic.oup.com. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Explore the Taxonomic Tree Katharellidae". www.fws.gov. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 "Kantharella antarctica Czaker 1994". www.eol.org. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 "Rhombozoans Class Rhombozoa". www.uk.inaturalist.org. Retrieved 7 December 2023.


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