Harpacticoida is an
order of
copepods, in the
subphylum
In zoological nomenclature, a subphylum is a taxonomic rank below the rank of phylum.
The taxonomic rank of " subdivision" in fungi and plant taxonomy is equivalent to "subphylum" in zoological taxonomy. Some plant taxonomists have also used th ...
Crustacea. This order comprises 463
genera and about 3,000
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
; its members are
benthic copepods found throughout the world in the marine environment (most families) and in
fresh water (essentially the
Ameiridae,
Parastenocarididae and the
Canthocamptidae). A few of them are
plankton
Plankton are the diverse collection of organisms found in water (or air) that are unable to propel themselves against a current (or wind). The individual organisms constituting plankton are called plankters. In the ocean, they provide a crucia ...
ic or live in association with other organisms. Harpacticoida represents the second-largest
meiofauna
Meiobenthos, also called meiofauna, are small benthic invertebrates that live in both marine and fresh water environments. The term ''meiofauna'' loosely defines a group of organisms by their size, larger than microfauna but smaller than macrof ...
l group in
marine sediments, after
nematodes. In Arctic and Antarctic seas, Harpacticoida are common inhabitants of
sea ice. The name Harpacticoida comes from the Greek noun ''harpacticon'' (rapacious predator) and the suffix ''-oid'' (akin to) and means ''reminiscent of a predator'' .
Harpacticoids are distinguished from other copepods by the presence of only a very short pair of first
antennae. The second pair of antennae are biramous, and the major joint within the body is located between the fourth and fifth body segments. They typically have a wide
abdomen
The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the to ...
, and often have a somewhat worm-like body.
Families
53 families are currently recognised in the Harpacticoida:
[ ]
*
Adenopleurellidae
*
Aegisthidae
*
Ameiridae
*
Ancorabolidae
*
Arenopontiidae
*
Argestidae
*
Balaenophilidae
*
Canthocamptidae
*
Chappuisiidae
*
Cletodidae
*
Cletopsyllidae
*
Cristacoxidae
*
Cylindropsyllidae
*
Dactylopusiidae
*
Darcythompsoniidae
Darcythompsoniidae is a family (biology), family of copepods, containing four genera. Members of the family have a very wide distribution throughout the tropics, where they live in rotting mangrove leaves. They lack egg sacs and are thought to la ...
*
Ectinosomatidae
*
Hamondiidae
*
Harpacticidae
*
Idyanthidae
*
Laophontidae
*
Laophontopsidae
*
Latiremidae
*
Leptastacidae
*
Leptopontiidae
Leptopontiidae is a family of crustaceans belonging to the order Harpacticoida.
Genera:
* ''Bereraia'' Huys, 2009
* ''Ichnusella'' Cottarelli, 1971
* ''Leptopontia'' Scott, 1902
* ''Notopontia'' Bodiou, 1977
* ''Parasewellina'' Cottarelli, Sapor ...
*
Louriniidae
*
Metidae
*
Miraciidae
*
Nannopodidae
*
Neobradyidae
*
Normanellidae
*
Novocriniidae
*
Orthopsyllidae
*
Parameiropsidae
*
Paramesochridae
*
Parastenheliidae
*
Parastenocarididae
*
Peltidiidae
*
Phyllognathopodidae
*
Pontostratiotidae
*
Porcellidiidae
*
Protolatiremidae
*
Pseudotachidiidae
*
Rhizothricidae
*
Rometidae
*
Rotundiclipeidae
*
Superornatiremidae
*
Tachidiidae
*
Tegastidae
*
Tetragonicipitidae
*
Thalestridae
*
Thompsonulidae
*
Tisbidae
*
Zosimeidae
References
External links
Harpacticoida, Guide to the marine zooplankton of south eastern AustraliaTasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q146286
Crustacean orders