Stylonurus

Stylonurus
Temporal range: Devonian
Restorations of Stylonurus powriensis and Pterygotus anglicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Merostomata
Order: Eurypterida
Superfamily: Stylonuroidea
Family: Stylonuridae
Genus: Stylonurus
Page, 1856
Type species
Stylonurus powriensis
Page, 1856
Species

See text

Stylonurus is a genus of prehistoric eurypterid of the Family Stylonuridae.

Description

Stylonurids, which lived from the Ordovician to Lower Permian periods, were small to very large forms with scales developing into tubercules and knobs. The prosoma (head) exhibited variable shape, with arcuate compound eyes located subcentrally, or anteriorly. Their abdomens were slender. Their walking legs were long and powerful, sometimes characterized by spines. Most genera did not have swimming legs.[1]

Stylonurus is distinguishable from other stylonurids by their smooth surface, and the greatly elongated 5th (last) pair of walking legs, which reached as far as the telson, which was long and styliform. The prosoma (head) varied from semiovate to subrectangular.[1]

Species

The genus contains two species, one of which is of uncertain placement:

= Stylonurus ensiformis Woodward, 1864

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Størmer, L 1955. Merostomata. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part P Arthropoda 2, Chelicerata, P: 36.