| Carcinosoma Temporal range: Late Silurian |
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|---|---|
| Carcinosoma scorpioides | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Merostomata |
| Order: | †Eurypterida |
| Superfamily: | †Mixopteroidea |
| Family: | †Carcinosomatidae |
| Genus: | †Carcinosoma Claypole, 1890 |
| Species | |
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See text |
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Carcinosoma is a genus of an extinct arthropod. Up to 30 cm long, these eurypterids were found in New York and in other states of the United States. It is from the Late Silurian.
Contents |
Carcinosoma were characterized by small to large exoskeletons with scattered minute tubercules or raised tongue-shaped scales. The prosoma (head) was subtriangular, with small compound eyes at the front. The chelicerae (claws in front of the mouth) were small. The walking legs were covered with long spines, and the second pair of walking legs was the longest. The preabdomen, the front portion of the body, was broad and ovate, while the postabdomen was cylindrical and narrow. The telson was a curved spine[1].