Class Branchiura

Although this is a relatively small Class, it is economically very important. There are about 150 described species, all less than 3 cm long. They are dorsoventrally flattened, nearly all parasitise marine and freshwater fish and they are commonly known as fish lice. They attach to their host's skin or gills by a pair of suckers, and feed on the host's blood and mucus through a sucking, tubular mouth. They have a shield-like carapace and compound eyes.

There are about 1000 species world wide in this class, most less than 3 cm length in 4 Orders: Notostraca (tadpole shrimps), Anostraca (fairy shrimps), Conchostraca (clam shrimps), Cladocera (water fleas.) They are unusual in that they occur mainly in freshwater. Most are small filter feeders.

Notostraca (tadpole shrimps) are also known as triops (see below right) and are commonly kept as pets.

Although they require quite specific conditions to hatch, e.g. pure, clean, predator free water. They are more robust once they are a few days old. However if you have them as a pet and have managed to get quite a few to hatch it is wise to separate them as they will eat each other in crowded conditions. They are often described as "the oldest living animal species on earth". Triops canciformis first appeared 220 millions of years ago in the Triassic. Triops langicaudatus, on the right, appeared a little later. It is the species most commonly sold as dried eggs to be raised as a pet.

Anocostraca (fairy shrimps). All have long bodies with 20 or more segments, see Branchinecta above, and a Chirocephalus diaphinus female in swimming position (i.e. as seen from above) below. C. diaphanus is found in freshwater. It is semi-transparent, without a carapace, and most of its 11 pairs of legs are similar in shape, so it is considered "primitive". It is sometimes found in pools that dry up during the summer. It can be up to 35 mm long, and swims on its back. It is never still, and the constant movement of its legs creates a current of water bringing food particles down a food groove to its mouth, and oxygen to its tissues. It has a pair of large, black eyes. The first pair of antennae are simple and unjointed; the second pair are broad, and in the male, large and complicated. The gut is visible. Eggs can survive in dry mud for a long time.

The best known Order are the Cladocera (water fleas see left, and Daphne pulex on the right) with the carapace covering the entire body. Most are less than 5 mm long. They are found mainly in freshwater and there are around 450 species world wide. Water fleas swim using their second pair of antennae - the first pair are sensory. The down stroke moves the animal upwards, then it slowly sinks. The other appendages (legs, antennae) are used to filter food particles from the water, and are equipped with hairs to aid in this.

They are also unusual because for much of the year they are parthenogenic. Males are only produced when environmental conditions become unfavourable, i.e. when the weather cools. Then they produce "winter eggs". These survive the cold of winter enclosed in a pouch made form the carapace of their dead mother. These eggs hatch in spring.

Water fleas can live for just a few weeks, or for as long as 6 months. They are found in shallow, weedy ponds, lake edges, and debris in still fresh water.

They are eaten by a wide range of animals, and are an important link in food webs. Their major predators include hydra, flatworms, newts, young fish and other Crustacea.

Class Cirripedia

These are the barnacles, they are entirely marine, very modified in body form, and there are about 1000 species.

The larva is free living, and has a carapace and compound eyes.

As adults they are enclosed in a shell of calcareous plates, and are sessile. Goose barnacles (see Lepas anatifera on the right, and Lepas sp. below) are attached by a fleshy stalk to floating structures and are found world wide. The stalk or peduncle can range in length from just a few mm to 75 cm.

Acorn barnacles (left) attach directly to the substrate.

In all the head is reduced, the abdomen absent and the legs have been modified into cirri (many joints with chaetae) for filter feeding (see left). The close fitting plates (see below left) allow them to colonise areas which are periodically dry such as intertidal areas.

Barnacles are hermaphrodite, but must reproduce sexually. Each individual has both male and female sexual organs. The penis is enormously long (see above left) and can be extended many times the length of the body - an obvious advantage to an animal permanently attached in one place.

On the left is Balanus sp. showing the names and positions of the plates.

Barnacles often grow on the hulls of ships and can reduce the speed of the ship by as much as 40%, necessitating a visit to a dry dock to clear them off.