Heterosaccus
| Heterosaccus | |
|---|---|
| H. hians. | |
| H. occidentalis. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Thecostraca |
| Subclass: | Cirripedia |
| Infraclass: | Rhizocephala |
| Family: | Sacculinidae |
| Genus: | Heterosaccus Smith, 1906 |
| Type species | |
| Sacculina hians Kossmann, 1872 | |
Heterosaccus is a genus of barnacles in infraclass Rhizocephala. Like other taxa in this group, they parasitize crabs. Geoffroy Smith circumscribed the genus in 1906; he initially only included H. hians. Smith circumscribed a genus distinct from Sacculina due to a difference of the mesentery; in Heterosaccus, the mesentery does not stretch down to the mantle opening but rather only is present on the ring of attachment.