Strobilopterus

Strobilopterus
Temporal range: Devonian
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Merostomata
Order: Eurypterida
Superfamily: Eurypteroidea
Family: Dolichopteridae
Genus: Strobilopterus
Ruedemann, 1935
species

See text

Strobilopterus is a genus of prehistoric eurypterid of the family Dolichopteridae.

Description

Dolichopterids, which lived in the Silurian and Devonian periods, were medium-sized, and had outer surfaces that were either smooth with pustules and semilunar scales. Their compound eyes were arcuate and located anteriorly on the prosoma (head). Their abdomens had epimers (lateral projections). The telson, (tail) was lanceolate. Their chelicerae were small, and the first three pairs of walking lags were stout, with powerful spines. The last pair of walking lags had supplementary lobes, while the swimming lags had the last joint enlarged, as part of the paddle. The male genital appendage was long.[1]

Strobilopterus is distinguishable by its outer surface that has pustules and semilunar scales. Its semiovate prosoma (head) is with submarginal compound eyes, and the strongly serrate margins on the distal joints and lobes of the swimming legs.[1]

Species

The following species has been named:

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Størmer, L 1955. Merostomata. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part P Arthropoda 2, Chelicerata, P39.