''Pseudoctomeris sulcatus'' is a
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 ...
of
barnacle
A barnacle is a type of arthropod constituting the subclass Cirripedia in the subphylum Crustacea, and is hence related to crabs and lobsters. Barnacles are exclusively marine, and tend to live in shallow and tidal waters, typically in eros ...
, the only member of the
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 ...
''Pseudoctomeris''. It has an eight-plated shell wall with the
rostrum partially fused with adjacent
rostrolatera. The suture lines are visible only from the inside, thus in exterior view, the shell appears to have six wall plates. The basis is calcareous.
Opercular plates are higher than wide, and not deeply articulated. These features and others show strong relationship to family
Pachylasmatidae
Pachylasmatidae is a family of symmetrical sessile barnacles in the order Balanomorpha. There are about 10 genera and at least 30 described species in Pachylasmatidae.
Genera
These genera belong to the family Pachylasmatidae:
* '' Atetrapachylas ...
, and taxonomic revision of Pachylasmatidae has resulted in the transfer of ''Pseudoctomeris'' from
Chthamalidae
The Chthamalidae are a family of chthamaloid barnacles, living entirely in intertidal/subtidal habitats, characterized by a primary shell wall of eight, six, or four plates, lacking imbricating plate whorls, and either membraneous or more rare ...
to Pachylasmatidae.
[
Diagnostic soft part characteristics, as described in Poltarukha, 2006][ include a tridentate ]mandible
In anatomy, the mandible, lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human facial skeleton. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower tooth, teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movabl ...
and presence of a multi-jointed caudal appendage.
As ''Pseudoctomeris'' is monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
, the genus characters are necessarily the same as those of ''P. sulcatus''.
Nomenclature and Synonymy
''Pseudoctomeris''
* ''Pseudoctomeris'' , 1996;
''Pseudoctomeris sulcata''
* ''Octomeris sulcata'' , 1932;[ (generic reassignment): 2006;][ (supplemental description, discussion).
* Type locality:
* Type specimens and repository:
]
Habitat and geographic range
''Pseudoctomeris'' is found in less agitated environments than most Chthamaloidea
The Chthamaloidea are a subdivision of Balanomorpha proposed by Newman and Ross to include barnacles with shell wall composed of rostrum, carina, and one to three pairs of latera, rarely supplemented with one or more whorls of basal imbricating ...
, preferring lower littoral
The littoral zone or nearshore is the part of a sea, lake, or river that is close to the shore. In coastal ecology, the littoral zone includes the intertidal zone extending from the high water mark (which is rarely inundated), to coastal areas ...
to sublittoral habitats,[ on rocky shores.]
References
External links
WoRMS
{{Taxonbar, from=Q16988643
Barnacles
Maxillopoda
Monotypic arthropod genera