Candonidae is a family of ostracods, containing around 25% of all known species of freshwater ostracods. Around 75% of genera in the family are endemic to a single zoogeographic region. It contains more than 500 species, of which more than 300 are endemic to the Palearctic realm.

Cyclocypridinae are generally good swimmers, but Candoninae is unable to swim.

Paracypridinae lives in marine and brackish waters, although a few can live in freshwater.

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