Family DIACANTHOCAPSIDAE O’Dogherty, 1994

Diacanthocapsidae O’Dogherty, 1994: 216 .

Diacanthocapsinae – De Wever et al. 2001: 256-258.

TYPE GENUS. — Diacanthocapsa Squinabol, 1903: 129 [type species by monotypy: Diacanthocapsa euganea Squinabol 1903: 133].

INCLUDED GENUS (CENOZOIC ONLY). — Myllocercion Foreman, 1968: 37 (= Schadelfusslerus synonymized by Hollis 1997: 62).

DIAGNOSIS. — The family is oval to fusiform in shape. Two to four segments with a small simple cephalis that tends to be encased in the abdomen. The thorax is larger than the abdomen or develops three to four feet characteristics instead of a thorax.

STRATIGRAPHIC OCCURRENCE. — Early Campanian-early Middle Eocene.

REMARKS

The Diacanthocapsidae are fundamentally different from the Carpocaniidae by the presence of a simple cephalis. We consider the Diacanthocapsidae a member of the Carpocanioidea due to the similarity of all their characteristics, except for the difference in cephalic initial spicular systems. This decision undoubtedly needs to be re-examined in the future.