Classification

Domain: Eukarya

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Crustacea

Class: Maxillopoda

Order: Sessilia

Family: Chthamalidae

Genus: Chthamalus

Species: fragilis

 

Domain: Eukarya

The domain Eukarya arose around 1.7 billion years ago breaking from the domain Archaea. Chthamalus fragilis belongs to the domain Eukarya because, like other Eukarya, it has membrane-bound organelles and a true nucleus (Sidwell Friends School). For examples of the range of organisms in the Domain Eukarya, visit these sites: a fungus, a butterfly , a leech, and an orange.

Kingdom: Animalia

The kingdom Animalia, under the domain Eukarya, are all multicellular and heterotrophic. Organisms belonging to the kingdom Animalia are multicellular, because they contain more than one cell unlike single-celled organisms. They are heterotrophic, because they receive their nourishment from other organisms. Chthamalus fragilis is both multicellular and heterotroph, so it is identified under the Animalia kingdom (Myers P 2001). The Animalia range from a black widow spider to a common sunfish.

Phylum: Arthropoda

The phyla Arthopoda is by far the largest of the phylum. “Arthropod” means, “jointed-foot” explaining one of the main characteristics of this phylum of segmentation. Other characteristics that are unique to this phylum include bilateral symmetry and protostome development. Arthropods also have an external skeleton made of chitin and protein as well as an open circulatory system. For these reasons, the Chthamalus fragils is identified as an arthropod (Myers P 2001). To see an arthropod, a dragonfly or a cricket , click this link!

Sub-Phylum: Crustacea

C. fragilis falls under this category, because like most other crustacean species , they are aquatic and have appendages on their body segments. Also, crustaceans have a flexible yet hard exoskeleton for protection (Myers P 2001). They include octupi, crabs, and snails along with the barnacles.

Class: Maxillopoda

Due to their structure and ways of feeding, Chthamalus fragils fit into the class Maxillopoda. Most organisms that fall under the class Maxillopoda are small and include simple structure of 10 trunk and 5 head segments, also, most organisms feed with their maxillae. However, barnacles do not under these common features, barnacles feed with thoracic appendages instead but are still considered to be part of the class Maxillopoda. (Myers P 2001)

Order: Sessilia

The main difference in the Sessilia barnacles that separates them from the rest is their lack of stalks, this makes them acorn barnacles. (BOLD Systems: Taxonomy Browser)

Family: Chthamalidae

The family of Chthamalidae barnacles differs from other barnacles largely due to their habitat. Unlike many other barnacles, the family Chthamalidae live in intertidal and subtidal environments. The barnacle Chthamalus fragilis lives in intertidal habitats and therefore belongs to this family. (Newman W.A. and Ross A 1970)

Genus: Chthamalus

Even more specifically, Chthamalus barnacles live close to the high tide line. Chthamalus barnacles are separate from the genus Semibalanus due to the layer in which they live. Semibalanus barnacles live just beneath Chthamalus barnacles. (Newman W.A. and Ross A 1970)

Species: Chthamalus fragilis

Also known as the “little gray barnacle” this organism’s habitat and structure separates itself from the rest. To get more insight on this rare barnacle, explore this website, Invasions.edu (Fofonoff PW, Ruiz GM, Steves B, & Carlton JT. 2003).

Morphology:

A distinguishing feature of Chthamalus fragilis would be the wavy line found across this organism, as well as they gray color in appearance. (Fofonoff PW, Ruiz GM, Steves B, & Carlton JT. 2003)

Sources

Keeling, P., B. S. Leander, and A. Simpson. 2009. Eukaryotes. Eukaryota, Organisms with nucleated cells. Version 28 October 2009. <URL: http://tolweb.org/Eukaryotes/3/2009.10.28>. Accessed 4 March 2014.

Myers, P. 2001. "Animalia" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. <URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Animalia/>. Accessed April 13, 2014

Myers, P. 2001. "Arthropoda" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 13, 2014. <URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Arthropoda/>. Accessed April 13, 2014. 

Myers, P. 2001. "Crustacea" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. <URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Crustacea/>. Accessed April 13, 2014

Myers, P. 2001. "Maxillopoda" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. <URL: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Maxillopoda/>. Accessed April 13, 2014

Boldsystems 2013. <URL: http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=391>. Accessed 8 March 2014. 

Newman, W.A. and Ross, A. 1971. Antarctic Cirripedia; monographic account based on specimens collected chiefly under the United States Antarctic research program, 1962-1965. American Geophysical Union, Washington. 

Karleskint, G., R. Turner., and J. Small. 2010. Introduction to marine biology. Brooks cole. Belmont, CA.  

Tree of Life Web Project. 2009. Cirripedia. <URL: http://tolweb.org/Cirripedia/8127 >. Accessed 6 March 2014.

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