Monstrilloida

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Monstrilloida
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Maxillopoda
Order:	Monstrilloida
Family:	'

Monstrilloida is an order of copepods, a group of small crustaceans found in marine and freshwater habitats. They are notable for their unique life cycle and parasitic larval stage. Monstrilloida are primarily known for their adult free-swimming stage, during which they are non-feeding and are often found in plankton samples.

Description

Monstrilloida are characterized by their distinct morphology, which includes a cylindrical body, a single median eye, and long antennules. Unlike many other copepods, adult Monstrilloida lack mouthparts and a digestive system, as they do not feed during this stage of their life cycle. The adult stage is primarily focused on reproduction.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Monstrilloida is complex and involves both parasitic and free-living stages. The larval stage is parasitic, typically infecting marine invertebrates such as polychaete worms or mollusks. During this stage, the larvae derive nutrients from their host. After completing the parasitic stage, they undergo metamorphosis into the adult form, which is free-swimming and non-parasitic.

Ecology

Monstrilloida are found in a variety of marine environments, from coastal waters to the open ocean. They play a role in the marine ecosystem as part of the planktonic community, although their ecological impact is not as well-studied as other copepod orders due to their unique life cycle and the difficulty in studying their parasitic stages.

Taxonomy

The order Monstrilloida was first described by Giesbrecht in 1892. It is a small order within the subclass Copepoda, and it includes several genera, such as Monstrilla and Monstrillopsis. The taxonomy of Monstrilloida is based on morphological characteristics observed in the adult stage, as the parasitic larvae are often difficult to identify to species level.

Research and Importance

Research on Monstrilloida is ongoing, with scientists interested in their unique life cycle, evolutionary adaptations, and ecological roles. Understanding Monstrilloida can provide insights into parasitism, copepod diversity, and marine ecosystems.

Also see

• Copepoda
• Parasitism
• Marine biology
• Plankton