Pygocephalomorpha

Pygocephalomorpha
Temporal range:
Fossil specimens of Hoplita ginsburgi
Life restoration of Tealliocaris etheridgii
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Superorder: Peracarida
Order: Pygocephalomorpha
Beurlen, 1930
Families
  • Jerometichenoriidae
  • Notocarididae
  • Pygocephalidae
  • Tealliocarididae
  • Tylocarididae

The order Pygocephalomorpha is an extinct group of peracarid crustaceans. Pygocephalomorpha appeared in the Late Devonian, were abundant from the Carboniferous era until their extinction in the Early Permian era.

This group constituted part of the freshwater and aquatic crustacean assemblages. The carapace is relatively axially shortened, with a prominent gastric region. Laterally, a cervical groove is visible, with carapace margins which is defined by an acute spine or process, including a somewhat well developed branchiostegites"