A revised classification of the higher taxa of the Ostracoda (Crustacea)

Focusing on palaeontological data from the literature of the last four decades, a new classification of the Ostracoda is outlined. The superorder Podocopomorpha is accepted as a mantle term for the ‘P-orders’ Palaeocopida, Punciocopida, Platycopida and Podocopida; its counterpart are the Myodocopomorpha (Cypridinida, Halocypridida and ? Leperditicopida). The Podocopida comprise the suborders Bairdiocopina, Cytherocopina, Sigilliocopina, Cypridocopina, Darwinulocopina and Healdiocopina (n.;=Metacopina s.s.). The non-calcifying ostracodomorph arthropods (Archaeocopida and Phosphatocopida) of the Early Palaeozoic, now excluded from the Ostracoda by many authors, are also considered briefly.