Occlupanid ID Guide
The Holotypic Occlupanid Research Group classifies occlupanids by the shape of their oral groove. A sampling of standardized oral groove morphologies are presented here, in hopes of leading the enthusiastic occlupanologist towards a positive ID of their specimen. Note that some taxonomic families contain more than one shape of oral groove, such as in the wide diversity of the Archignathidae.
What shape is the oral groove of your occlupanid?
ARCHIGNATHIDAE
ARCHIGNATHIDAE
TOXODENTIDAE
TRIDENTIDAE
ENOTROPGNATHIDAE
HAPLOGNATHIDAE
CORRUGATIDAE
KENODONTIDAE
CONCAVIGULIDAE
ACUTIGNATHIDAE
SPINOSACCULIDAE
ANGULOGNATHIDAE
NOVENOCENTRIDAE
PLANOTECTIDAE
MYCOGNATHIDAE
What material is your specimen made of?
Occlupanids are part of Kingdom Plasticae, and that means they are entirely comprised of stiff or flexible plastic. If the specimen in question appears to be made of paper fibers, when what you are holding is not an occlupanid, but a clever plant-based mimic known as an occlupanopsid. Information on these fiber-fluff fakeouts can be found here.