Mixopterus

Mixopterus
Temporal range: Late Silurian
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Merostomata
Order: †Eurypterida
Superfamily: †Mixopteroidea
Family: †Mixopteridae
Genus: †Mixopterus
Ruedemann, 1921
Species

See text

Mixopterus is a genus of a eurypterid. It belongs to the family Mixopteridae.

Contents

Description

Mixopterus were characterised by a robust exoskeletons with scattered tubercles or semicircular scales. The prosoma (head) was subquadrate, protruding antemedially. The chelicerae (claws in front of the mouth) were small. The first two pairs of walking legs were strongly developed, with long paired spines.[1] The third and fourth walking legs were moderately sized, with short spines. The preabdomen, the front portion of the body, was narrow with axial furrows, while the postabdomen was narrow. The telson was a curved spine.[2]

Species

Three species are currently classified under the genus:

See also

References

  1. ^ Euan Neilson Kerr Clarkson (1998). "Arthropods". Invertebrate Palaeontology and Evolution (4th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 348–405. ISBN 9780632052387. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=g1P2VaPQWfUC&pg=PA397. 
  2. ^ Leif Størmer (1955). "Merostomata". Part P Arthropoda 2, Chelicerata. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. pp. 34–35.