Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Crustacea Scientific name Stenopodidea Rank Infraorder | Phylum Arthropoda Suborder Pleocyemata Higher classification Pleocyemata | |
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Similar Stenopus hispidus, Stenopus, Crustacean, Decapoda, Hippolytidae | ||
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. Three fossil species are also recognised, each belonging to a separate genus. The earliest fossil assigned to the Stenopodidea is Devonostenopus pennsylvaniensis from the Devonian. Until D. pennsylvaniensis was discovered, the oldest known member of the group was Jilinicaris chinensis from the Late Cretaceous.
