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Kantharella

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(Redirected from Kantharellidae) Genus of worms

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. The only species in the genus is Kantharella antarctica. This species is most closely related to other species of the order Dicyemida, which only has one other family, Dicyemidae.

Kantharella is characterized by species that are parasitic endosymbiotes and live within renal sacs of species of cephalopods. They consist of only about 30 cells and they feed off of nutrients in the urine of cephalopods.

Taxonomy

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

Structure and Behavior

Kantharella are bilaterally symmetrical with a vermiform body shape. They are carnivores that utilize their cephalopod hosts for nutrition. They exclusively live in the ocean and reproduce asexually.

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. There is debate to which species are closest living relatives to Kantharella as there is molecular phylogenies supporting differing species. They have been found to share genetic similarities with roundworms as well as species in the phylum Orthonectida.

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. ^ "Highlight—Lessons on Parasitism from the Curious Dicyemida 1994". www.academic.oup.com. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Explore the Taxonomic Tree Katharellidae". www.fws.gov. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Kantharella antarctica Czaker 1994". www.eol.org. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Rhombozoans Class Rhombozoa". www.uk.inaturalist.org. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
Taxon identifiers
Kantharella
Kantharellidae


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