Pterygotus

Restoration.

Pterygotus anglicus is an extinct Eurypterid, related to arachnids (the spider family) and commonly called "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 Jaekelopterus. It is similar to the freshwater Slimonia.

Pterygotus could reach a body length of 1.6 metres (5 ft 3 in).^[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
The size of the largest (P. grandidentatus) and smallest (P. kopaninensis) species of Pterygotus compared to a human.
Fossils described by John William Salter as belonging to "Pterygotus problematicus" in 1852. This species is now considered a nomen vanum.
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)
Cheliceral claw of P. barrandei.
Pterygotus model in the Czech National Museum, Prague.
Fossil tergite of P. carmani, preserving the scale-like ornamentation characteristic of pterygotid eurypterids.
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.

[1] 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.

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