Phyllocarids
Phyllocarids are a subclass of crustaceans. They are characterized by a bivalved carapace that completely encloses the body. This carapace is not calcified, unlike that of many other crustaceans, and it is articulated. Phyllocarids are considered the most primitive of the extant crustacean subclasses. The fossil record of phyllocarids extends back to the Cambrian period, making them among the oldest known arthropod groups.
The body of a phyllocarid is typically elongated and segmented. They possess a distinct head, thorax, and
Phyllocarids are exclusively marine organisms. They inhabit a variety of marine environments, from shallow coastal waters
There are two extant orders within the subclass Phyllocarida: the Leptostraca. These living phyllocarids are relatively