Cylindroleberididae is a family of ostracods that shows remarkable morphological diversity. The defining feature is the possession of gills: 7–8 leaf-like pairs at the posterior of the body. Other features common to all species in the family include a "baleen-comb" on both the maxilla and the fifth limb, a sword-shaped coxal endite on the mandible, and the triaenid bristles on the basal endites of the mandible.[2]
Species of the Cylindroleberididae are found in marine areas, from shallow waters to depths of more than 4,500 metres (14,800 ft).[3] Most species are approximately 2 millimetres (0.08 in) long. In 2006, there were 219 described species.[4]
A fossil discovered in 2003 with preserved soft parts has been assigned to the Cylindroleberididae.[5] The fossil appears to have gills and is thought to date from 425 million years ago.[5]
Subtaxa
Cylindroleberididae contains the following subfamilies and genera.[1]
^ abBrandão, S. N.; Angel, M. V.; Karanovic, I.; Perrier, V. & Meidla, T. (2018). World Ostracoda Database. Cylindroleberididae Müller, 1906. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=196139 on 2018-09-11
^Erik Mellentin Poulsen (1965). "Ostracoda-Myodocopa Part 2 Cypridiniformes-Rutidermatidae, Sarsiellidae and Asteropidae". Dana Report. XII (65): 1–483.
