Cyprididae | |
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Chlamydotheca unispinosa | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Ostracoda |
Order: | Podocopida |
Superfamily: | Cypridoidea |
Family: | Cyprididae Baird, 1845[1] |
Subfamilies | |
Synonyms | |
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Cyprididae is "the most diverse group of freshwater ostracods".[2] It contains over 1000 species, which represents 50% of the known species of freshwater ostracods (other speciose families include Candonidae, with 25%, and Limnocytheridae, with 10%).[3] Around 60% of genera in the family are endemic to a single zoogeographic region.[3] The family contains 16 subfamilies, and is most diverse in the Afrotropical realm, with over 300 species in 45 genera.[3] Many Cyprididae occur in temporary water bodies and have drought-resistant eggs, mixed/parthenogenetic reproduction and ability to swim. These biological attributes pre-adapt them to form successful radiations in these habitats.[4] Bennelongia is an interesting of the family Cyprididae. It may be the last true descendant of the Mesozoic (and now extinct) lineage of Cypridea, which was a dominant lineage of ostracod in non-marine waters in the Cretaceous.[3]