Stenopodidea

The Stenopodidea is a small group of decapod crustaceans. Often confused with shrimp or prawns, they are neither, but belong in a group closer to the reptant decapods, such as lobsters and crabs. They may be easily recognised by their third pereiopod (walking leg), which is greatly enlarged. In the lobsters and crabs, it is the first pereiopod that is much bigger than the others. There are 71 extant species currently recognised, divided into 12 genera. Two fossil species are also recognised, each belonging to a separate genus. The earliest fossil assigned to the Stenopodidea is Jilinicaris chinensis from the Late Cretaceous.

  • Macromaxillocarididae
    • Macromaxillocaris
  • Spongicolidae
    • Engystenopus
    • Globospongicola
    • Jilinicaris
    • Microprosthema
    • Paraspongicola
    • Spongicola
    • Spongicoloides
    • Spongiocaris
  • Stenopodidae
    • Juxtastenopus
    • Odontozona
    • Phoenice
    • Richardina
    • Stenopus