| Sunellidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Order: | † Isoxyida |
| Family: | † Sunellidae Huo, 1965 |
| Type genus | |
| Sunella | |
| Genera | |
| |
| Sunellidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Order: | † Isoxyida |
| Family: | † Sunellidae Huo, 1965 |
| Type genus | |
| Sunella | |
| Genera | |
| |
Sunellidae was originally made to include three genera: Sunella , Chiella and Luella but later the latter two where synonymized with Sunella. Later two other genera, Jinningella and Combinivalvula were described and the definition of Sunellidae was strictened by adding the additional defining feature, the possession of an anterodorsal sulcus. In 2021 one species of Sunella , S. bispinata was moved to the genus Caudicaella . [2] It was assigned to Isoxyida in 2025. [1]
Usually the soft anatomy of sunellids is not preserved but a few examples of soft part preservation (only twenty-two times in Sunella cf. shensiella and six in Combinivalvulachenjiangensis) have been recorded in Combinivalvulachenjiangensis and Sunella cf. shensiella. [3]
Sunellids have a roughly semicircular carapace and have anterior and posterior carndinal spines. [3] They are distinguished from other similar arthropods by the presence of an anterodorsal sulcus (a feature shared by the unrelated bradoriids). [1] [3] [2] Probable sexual dimorphism has been observed in Sunella grandis and Jinningella communis. [3]