Maristella (crustacean)

Maristella is a genus of ostracods belonging to the Myodocopida (Cypridinidae).[2] 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 seen here.

Maristella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Ostracoda
Order: Myodocopida
Family: Cypridinidae
Subfamily: Cypridininae
Genus: Maristella
Reda & Gerrish, 2019
Type species
Maristella chicoi
Reda & Gerrish, 2019
Species[1]

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Maristella is with seven species the most species-rich genus of the family.[1] Other genera include Enewton, Photeros, Konickeria and Vargula. Maristella means 'star of the sea'. Maristella is the only genus with lateral or diagonal luminescent courtship displays.

Species

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Maristella". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  2. ^ Reda, NJ; Morin, JG; Torres, E; Cohen, AC; Schawaroch, V; Gerrish, GA (14 Nov 2019). "Maristella, a new bioluminescent ostracod genus in the Myodocopida (Cypridinidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 187 (4): 1078–1118. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz082.