''Maristella'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
ostracod
Ostracods, or ostracodes, are a Class (biology), class of the crustacean, Crustacea (class Ostracoda), sometimes known as seed shrimp. Some 33,000 species (only 13,000 of which are extant taxon, extant) have been identified,Brandão, S.N.; Antoni ...
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 p ...
(
Cypridinidae
Cypridinidae is a family of ostracods. About half of all known species are bioluminescent
Bioluminescence is the emission of light during a chemiluminescence reaction by living organisms. Bioluminescence occurs in multifarious organisms r ...
).
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'', ''
Photeros'', ''
Konickeria'' and ''
Vargula''. Maristella means 'star of the sea'. ''Maristella'' is the only genus with lateral or diagonal luminescent courtship displays.
Species
References
Myodocopida
Ostracod genera
{{Ostracod-stub