A proposed order of the Peracarida established for two small crustacean species, Hirsutia bathyalis and Mictocaris halope (see illus.). The two species share many features common to other peracaridans but differ sufficiently to justify their assignment to a distinct order with two monotypic families. Common peracaridan features include a brood pouch formed by basal lamellae of the perepods (oöstegites) in the female; a small movable process (lacinia mobilis) on the mandible; free thoracic somites not fused to a carapace shield; a single maxilliped of typical peracarid form; and partially immobile pereopodal basal segments.