Cyprididae


Cyprididae is "the most diverse group of freshwater ostracods". It contains 1000 species, which represents 50% of the known species of freshwater ostracods. Around 60% of genera in the family are endemic to a single zoogeographic region. The family contains 25 subfamilies, and is most diverse in the Afrotropical realm, with over 300 species in 45 genera. 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. Bennelongia is an interesting genus of the family Cyprididae. It may be the last true descendant genus of the Mesozoic lineage of Cypridea, which was a dominant lineage of ostracod in non-marine waters in the Cretaceous.

Overview of genera

Amphicypris - Ampullacypris - Apatelecypris - Argentocypris -
Austromesocypris - Bennelongia - Bradleystrandesia - Callistocypris - Candocypria - Candonocypris - Cavernocypris - Chlamydotheca - Cyclocypria - Cyclocypris - Cypretta - Cypria - Cypricercus - Cypriconcha - Cypridopsis - Cyprinotus - Cypris - Diacypris - Dolerocypris - Eucypris - Eundacypris - Eurycypris - Goniocypris - Hemicypris - Herpetocypris - Heterocypris - Hypselecypris - Ilyodromus - Isocypris - Kapcypridopsis - Karshicypridea - Klieopsis - Koencypris - Liocypris - Madagascarcypris - Mecynocypria - Megalocypris - Mesocypris - Neocypridopsis - Paracypria - Pelocypris - Physocypria - Potamocypris - Prionocypris - Pseudocypris - Pseudoilyocypris - Psychrodromus - Sarscypridopsis - Sclerocypris - Scottia - Spirocypris - Stenocypria - Stenocypris - Strandesia - Tanganyikacypris - Tanycypris - Thermopsis - Tonnacypris - Trajancypris - Zonocypretta