Thamnocephalidae is a family of anostracan branchiopod crustaceans with wide distribution including Western Australia, Southern Africa and South America. It was originally described as a subfamily of Branchipodidae by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1883, and elevated to the rank of family by Simon in 1886. Six genera are recognised, in two subfamilies:BranchinellinaeBranchinella Sayce, 1903 Dendrocephalus Daday, 1908 Phallocryptus Birabén, 1951 Spiralifrons Dixon, 2010ThamnocephalinaeCarinophallus Rogers, 2006 Thamnocephalus Packard, 1879