By Phil Myers
(ostracods, copepods, barnacles) Maxillopods include barnacles, copepods, mystacocarids, tantulocarids, branchiurans, ostracods, and related groups. Most species are small. Most feed by means of their maxillae (rather than filter feeding using thoracic appendages to move water); barnacles, however, are an exception. Barnacles feed with thoracic appendages, but in a way that is unique among crustaceans. Other characteristics of maxillopods including a basic plan of 5 head and 10 trunk segments (6 thoracic and usually 4 abdominal), followed by a terminal telson. The abdominal segments typically lack appendages; appendages elsewhere on the body are usually biramous.
Barnacles grow to encrust solid structures placed in marine environments, including docks and pilings and also the bottoms of ships.
References:
Hickman, C.P. and L. S. Roberts. 1994. Animal Diversity. Wm. C. Brown, Dubuque, IA.
Brusca, R. C., and G. J. Brusca. Invertebrates. 1990. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA.
Pearse, V., J. Pearse, M. Buchsbaum, and R. Buchsbaum. 1987. Living Invertebrates. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Palo Alto, Ca.
Contributors
Phil Myers (author), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
