Beyrichicopida
Quick Summary
The Beyrichicopida were an extinct order of crustaceans that lived from the Silurian to the Carboniferous periods. They are classified within the class Ostracoda, which are also known as mussel or seed shrimps. Ostracods are characterized by a short body enclosed in a bivalved carapace. While living ostracods typically have up to seven pairs of appendages, fossils of this group are primarily known from their shells. The fossil record for crustaceans, in general, is rich but has not fully clarified the early stages of their evolution.12
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