''Maristella'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

ostracod Ostracods, or ostracodes, are a class of the Crustacea (class Ostracoda), sometimes known as seed shrimp. Some 70,000 species (only 13,000 of which are extant) have been identified, grouped into several orders. They are small crustaceans, typic ...

s belonging to the

Myodocopida The Myodocopida is one of the two orders within the Myodocopa, in turn a subclass of the Ostracoda. The Myodocopida are distinguished by a worm-like seventh limb, and, usually, a rostrum above an incisure (notch) from which the antennae can pro ...

(

Cypridinidae Cypridinidae is a family of ostracods, containing the following genera: *'' Amphisiphonostra'' Poulsen, 1962 *'' Azygocypridina'' Sylvester-Bradley, 1950 *'' Bathyvargula'' Kornicker, 1968 *'' Codonocera'' Brady, 1902 *'' Cypridina'' Milne-Edwa ...

). The genus belongs to a diverse clade of Caribbean bioluminescent ostracods. Males perform species-specific luminescent courtship displays. It was chosen as one of the top ten species of 2019
WoRMS top 10 - 2019: Maristella chicoi
The video showing these light displays can be see
here
''Maristella'' is with seven species the most species-rich genus of the family. Other genera include ''

Enewton ''Enewton'' is a genus in the family Cypridinidae. The genus contains bioluminescent species, and in particular is one of the Caribbean genera of bioluminescent ostracod Ostracods, or ostracodes, are a class of the Crustacea (class Ostracoda ...

'', ''

Photeros ''Photeros'' is a genus in the Cypridinidae. The genus contains bioluminescent species, and is one of the genera of bioluminescent ostracod Ostracods, or ostracodes, are a class of the Crustacea (class Ostracoda), sometimes known as seed shr ...

'', '' Konickeria'' and '' Vargula''. Maristella means 'star of the sea'. ''Maristella'' is the only genus with lateral or diagonal luminescent courtship displays.

Species

References

{{Authority control Myodocopida Ostracod genera