Pterygotus
Pterygotus is an extinct eurypterid, related to arachnids and commonly called as the famous sea scorpions. It lived in the Silurian and Devonian periods.
Fossils have been found in North America, South America, Europe and Australia. It is related to the larger eurypterid Jaekelopterus, which also lived during the Silurian and Devonian. It is similar to the freshwater creature Slimonia.
Pterygotus could reach a body length of 16 meters long.[1] It had a pair of large compound eyes. It also had another pair of smaller eyes in the center of its head. It had 4 pairs of walking legs. A fifth pair of legs were swimming paddles. It also had a pair of large pincers.
Pterygotus Media
20201227 Pterygotus anglicus
- Pterygotus Size 2.svg
The size of the largest (P. grandidentatus) and smallest (P. kopaninensis) species of Pterygotus compared to a human.
- Pterygotus problematicus.png
Fossils described by John William Salter as belonging to "Pterygotus problematicus" in 1852. This species is now considered a nomen vanum.
- The Eurypterida of New York figure np 1.jpg
Painting painted in 1912 by Charles R. Knight depicting various eurypterids discovered in New York. The painting includes Dolichopterus, Eusarcana, Stylonurus, Eurypterus and Hughmilleria. Pterygotus can be seen in the center-left.
- A monograph of the British fossil Crustacea (Pl. VII) (7394013222).jpg
A monograph of the British fossil Crustacea (Pl. VII) (7394013222)
- The Eurypterida of New York (1912) (20812743611).jpg
Cheliceral claw of P. barrandei.
- Model eurypterida.jpg
Pterygotus model in the Czech National Museum, Prague.
- Eurypterids of the Devonian Holland Quarry Shale of Ohio figure 42.jpg
Fossil tergite of P. carmani, preserving the scale-like ornamentation characteristic of pterygotid eurypterids.
- Pterygotus, sea scorpion, Silurian, Fiddlers Green Formation, Phelps Member, Lang's Quarry, Herkimer County, New York, USA - Houston Museum of Natural Science - DSC01993.JPG
Fossilized specimens of P. monroensis discovered in the Late Silurian Fiddlers Green Formation of New York, United States.
References
- ↑ Brady, Simon J.; Poschmann, Markus; Tetlie, O. Erik (2008). "Giant claw reveals the largest ever arthropod". Biology Letters. 4 (1): 108. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2007.0491. PMC 2412931. PMID 18029297.