Phylogenetic analysis of the Balanidae (Cirripedia, Balanomorpha)

Pitombo, F. B. (2004). Phylogenetic analysis of the Balanidae (Cirripedia, Balanomorpha). —Zoologica Scripta, 33, 261–276. Our concept of the family Balanidae has undergone many changes since it was originally proposed, and it is now a more circumscribed group. Nevertheless, there are no studies of the phylogenetic relationships among its currently recognized subfamilies: Balaninae, Concavinae and Megabalaninae. Here, a new suite of characters is presented, thus allowing a better evaluation of the systematics of the group. A fourth subfamily, the Amphibalaninae, is proposed to accommodate Amphibalanus gen. nov. and its allies, and Perforatus gen. nov. is proposed and transferred to the Concavinae (all formerly Balaninae). A phylogenetic analysis of the Balanidae was performed. The results showed that Balaninae is basal to the other three subfamilies as well as Concavinae, and Megabalaninae forms a monophyletic group. Hypotheses of character evolution are presented and discussed. As a general pattern, Concavinae and Megabalaninae have the most derived structures, such as the extension of the lateral margin of the sheath, inner face of radii with a longitudinal abutment, basis multilayered (vesicular) and a spur with infolded margins.