Flocidae

Flocidae is a taxonomic name that has appeared in zoological classifications as a family-level grouping within the animal kingdom. Its status is uncertain: some authorities recognize Flocidae as a valid family, while others treat it as a junior synonym of a related family or as a non-monophyletic assemblage. Because there is no consensus on its delimitation, the circumscription of Flocidae varies among sources.

Taxonomy and circumscription: In the literature, Flocidae has been used to describe a small assemblage of aquatic invertebrates, but detailed diagnostic characters are poorly defined and different authors propose different compositions. In several classifications the included genera or species have been reassigned to other families as phylogenetic understanding evolves.

Description and ecology: Due to limited material, descriptive information is sparse. Reports from freshwater and brackish environments describe the organisms as small, soft-bodied invertebrates with simple appendages; ecological inferences are tentative, with suggested roles ranging from detritivory to micro-grazing, but data are insufficient to support firm conclusions.

Taxonomic history: The naming of Flocidae has been intermittent, reflecting broader debates about higher-level classification in the group to which it is assigned. The lack of a stable circumscription has led some databases to exclude Flocidae from current checklists.

See also: Taxonomy of aquatic invertebrates; list of animal families.