Fossiliferous horizons of the Ferrar Group at Carapace Nunatak of southern Victoria Land have yielded the richest and most diverse freshwater Jurassic biota hitherto recorded from Antarctica. Fossil conchostracans are the most important in terms of number of individuals and distributional area. Scanning electron microscopy is used to establish a new genus and species (Carapacestheria balli), and Cyzicus (Lioestheria) disgregaris Tasch is attributed to Carapacestheria disgregaris (Tasch) emend. The conchostracan fauna of the Ferrar Group, characterized by Carapacestheria, is probably of early Middle Jurassic age.
