Schizopoda

Schizopoda, an order of Crustacea, comprising the family of Mysidae or Opossum-shnmps. Their nearest allies are the Stomatopoda or Squills and the ordinary Decapoda or Crabs, Lobsters, etc. From the former group the Schizopods differ in the possession of a large "cephalothoracic shield" or plate covering the anterior end of the body. From the Crabs and Lobsters they differ in having the eight pairs of limbs on the thorax composed of two branches or rami. The members of the group are all marine. Gampsonyx and some other Carboniferous genera may belong to this order, which is otherwise unknown as a fossil.