Jaekelopterus
Jaekelopterus is an extinct genus of eurypterids from the Lower Devonian period. The two species are J. rhenaniae from the Rhineland, and J. howelli from Wyoming.
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| Artist's reconstruction of Jaekelopterus rhenaniae | |
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| Genus: | †Jaekelopterus Waterston, 1964
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| Type species | |
| †Jaekelopterus rhenaniae Jaekel, 1914
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Etymology
The name Jaekelopterus comes from the discoverer of the type species, Otto Jaekel, and Greek pteron, meaning "wing".[source?]
Description
Jaekelopterus is the largest sea scorpions and is possibly the largest arthropod to have ever existed, this is based on a chelicera that is 46 cm long.[1]
Characteristics
This sea scorpion is similar to other types of pterygotid in its morphology,[2] distinguished by a triangular telson.[3]
Visual system
Both Jaekelopterus rhenaniae and Pterygotus anglicus have high visual acuity, and this is suggested by the low IOA and that they have many lenses in their compound eyes.[4]
Classification
Discovery
Jaekelopterus was discovered by Otto Jaekel in 1914 as a Pterygotus species.[source?] However, in 1964, British paleontologist Charles D. Waterston decided to make the genus Jaekelopterus because the abdominal appendages were segmented as opposed to those of Pterygotus.[5]
Species
- †Jaekelopterus rhenaniae Jaekel, 1914
- †Jaekelopterus howelli Kjellesvig-Waering & Størmer, 1952
Gallery
Drawing of Jaekelopterus
Fossil of J. rhenaniae
Size comparison
Jaekelopterus Media
Cheliceral rami of two species of Jaekelopterus
Illustration of the holotype specimen of "Pterygotus rhenaniae", a pretelson, by Otto Jaekel, 1914
Fossil of J. rhenaniae at the Mineralientage München
Fossil paddle (A–B) and metastoma (C–G) of J. howelli
Fossil chelicerae of J. howelli.
Related pages
References
- ↑ Braddy, Poschmann, Tetlie, Simon J.; Markus; Erik O.. Giant claw reveals the largest ever arthropod. Biology Letters (20 Nov 2007).
- ↑ An isolated pterygotid ramus (Chelicerata: Eurypterida) from the Devonian Beartooth Butte Formation, Wyoming. Journal of Paleontology.
- ↑ Babes in the wood – a unique window into sea scorpion ontogeny. BMC Ecology and Evolution.
- ↑ New poraspids (Agnatha, Heterostraci) from the Early Devonian of the western United States. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
- ↑ D. Waterston,, Charles;. II. Observations on Pterygotid Eurypterids. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1964).