Eocarcinoidea

The Eocarcinoidea is an extinct superfamily of decapod crustaceans belonging to the infraorder Anomura. They are considered one of the earliest lineages within Anomura, playing a significant role in understanding the evolutionary history of hermit crabs and their relatives. The group's fossil record primarily consists of carapace fragments, offering limited but valuable data on their morphology and habitat. Key characteristics often used in the classification of Eocarcinoidea include specific features of the carapace structure, such as the presence and arrangement of grooves and ridges, as well as the shape and ornamentation of the regions within the carapace. Their existence dates back to the Triassic and Jurassic periods, indicating their presence in marine environments during the Mesozoic Era. Studies of Eocarcinoidea fossils contribute to understanding the diversification of decapod crustaceans and the transition from more generalized crustacean forms to the more specialized morphologies seen in modern anomurans.