Dendrogaster antarctica

Dendrogaster antarctica is an endoparasitic ascothoracid barnacle of Dendrogastridae that parasitizes on the common Antarctica cushion star, Odontaster validus.^[2] It has been found in several sites in Antarctica and was originally discovered by Mark J. Grygier in 1980.^[3] He then released an article in 1987 explaining the characteristics of a female member of the species.^[4] It was confirmed as an official species in 2003.^[5]

Dendrogaster antarctica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Thecostraca
Order:	Dendrogastrida
Family:	Dendrogastridae
Genus:	Dendrogaster
Species:	D. antarctica
Binomial name
Dendrogaster antarctica Grygier (1980)[1]

It has extremely small sperm. Their heads are 6–7 μm, long, The midpiece is as long as the head, and tapers to a flagellum 45–50 μm long. This sperm is the most primitive yet found in crustacea.^[6]