Devonian-fossil

Guides

• Peracarida

  Amphipods, Isopods, and Allies

  Peracarida is a superorder of malacostracan crustaceans comprising approximately 12,000 species across 13 orders. The group is defined by the presence of a marsupium (brood pouch) formed by oostegites—flattened plates on the basalmost leg segments of females. Members occupy marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats, ranging from minute interstitial forms to the giant isopod Bathynomus giganteus (76 cm) and giant amphipod Alicella gigantea (34 cm). The earliest known peracaridian, Oxyuropoda ligioides, dates to the Late Devonian (~360 mya).

  crustaceanbroodingmarsupiumdirect-developmentmalacostracaamphipodaisopodacumaceatanaidaceamysidamancaeoostegiteslacinia-mobilisdevonian-fossilbathynomusalicellaterrestrial-crustaceancave-faunainterstitial-faunaphylogenomicsuce

• Stenopodidae

  Coral Shrimps, Boxer Shrimp

  Stenopodidae is a family of marine decapod crustaceans comprising approximately 6 genera and more than 30 described extant species. The family has a fossil record extending to the Devonian period. Members are commonly known as coral shrimps or boxer shrimp and are distinguished from true shrimp and prawns by morphological and phylogenetic affinities closer to reptant decapods such as lobsters and crabs. The family exhibits diverse ecological associations including fish cleaning symbioses, commensalism with deep-water corals, and obligate associations with hexactinellid sponges.

  Decapodamarinecleaner-shrimpcoral-shrimpsymbiosisdeep-seaDevonian-fossil