Erettopterus

Erettopterus
Temporal range: Silurian–Devonian
E. bilobus at the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Merostomata
Order: Eurypterida
Superfamily: Pterygotioidea
Family: Pterygotidae
Genus: Erettopterus
Salter in Huxley & Salter, 1859

Erettopterus is a genus of prehistoric eurypterid.[1] It was related to another large eurypterid, Pterygotus.

Description

Restoration of E. osiliensis

Pterygotidae, which lived from the Ordovician to Devonian periods, were characterized by small to large exoskeletons with semilunar scales. The telson, (tail) was expanded, or flatter than it was tall. Pterygotidae also had chelicerae (claws in front of the mouth) that were large and long, with strong, well developed teeth on the claws. Their walking legs were small and slender, without spines.[2]

Erettopterus is distinguishable from other Pterygotidae by its telson, which is bilobed. The distal margins of the chelicerae are angular. The prosoma (head) is semielliptical, with compound eyes located at the edge.[3]

Species

Fossils of E. globiceps and E. sp., 1-11

See also

References

  1. "The Paleobiology Database". Retrieved 2008-12-02.
  2. Størmer, L 1955. Merostomata. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part P Arthropoda 2, Chelicerata, P: 30.
  3. Størmer, L 1955. Merostomata. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part P Arthropoda 2, Chelicerata, P: 31.
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