It was described in 1999 by biologists Fredrik Norén and Øjvind Moestrup, who identified the genus among collections of Dinophysis dinoflagellates off the coast of Sweden.

Initially mistaken for products of sexual reproduction, the round bodies found within these collections were eventually recognized as sporangia, spherical structures that generate zoospores of a parasitic protist.

The examination of this organism and its close genetic relationship to Perkinsus led to the creation of the Perkinsozoa phylum within the Alveolata group.

The name of this genus derives from Latin parvus 'small' and lucidus 'shining', referring to the small refractile appearance of the organisms.

The discovery was made through collections of Dinophysis dinoflagellates from the coast, which contained round bodies assumed to be products of sexual reproduction.

[1] Through combined examination of light and electron microscopy, alongside DNA sequencing of the emerging sporangia from the zooids, the organism displayed similarities with Perkinsus, a protist belonging to the Alveolata group (containing dinoflagellates, ciliates, apicomplexans and others).

The mysterious zooids differed from dinoflagellates and apicomplexans in the ultrastructure of their flagellum, which led to the creation of a separate new phylum, Perkinsozoa, encompassing Perkinsus and the new genus Parvilucifera.

For instance, P. multicavata differs from the type species P. infectans by a higher number of apertures in their sporangia, although smaller in diameter.

They are characterized by a large refractile body in the posterior part of the cell (hence the name Parvilucifera, meaning "small shining"), probably a starch grain, located within a vacuole.

[1] Their apical complex is reduced in comparison to that of apicomplexans, and it includes a pseudo-conoid, rhoptry-like and microneme-like vesicles, similar to those observed in Ichthyodinium, Amoebophrya and Perkinsus.

[6] In one species, P. sinerae, the process of infection can follow two different pathways, depending on whether the dinoflagellate host is thecate (i.e. with a protective outer layer of cellulose plates) or athecate.

Afterwards, the cytoplasm from where the zooids were abstricted becomes a residual body left in the sporangium, consisting of starch grains, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and a large central nucleus-like area.

[3] Two species, P. infectans and P. sinerae, are able to survive extreme conditions in their sporangium phase, due to the resilience of the host cyst which can protect the zoospores.

[12][5] The practical importance of Parvilucifera is a topic of interest, as the genus is demonstrated to be a controlling factor of many harmful algal blooms of dinoflagellates.

[6] There is research underway to understand the specific host ranges for each species in order to better control dinoflagellate blooms.