Pentecopterus

Pentecopterus
Temporal range: Darriwilian
Artist's reconstruction
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Merostomata
Order: †Eurypterida
Family: †Megalograptidae
Genus: †Pentecopterus
Lamsdell et al., 2015
Species: †P. decorahensis
Binomial name
Pentecopterus decorahensis
Lamsdell et al., 2015

Pentecopterus decorahensis[1][2][3][4] is an extinct sea scorpion that lived during the Middle Ordovician period, as early as 467.3 million years ago.[1] It is the oldest described eurypterid, and, at an estimated length of up to 1.83 metres (6 ft 0 in),[2][5] one of the largest known arthropods ever discovered, similar in size to the famous millipede-like Arthropleura. Other notable sea scorpions include the more recent Silurian-aged Acutiramus, and Devonian Jaekelopterus, the only arthropod currently known to surpass P. decorahensis in size.[6] According to researcher James Lamsdell of Yale University, P. decorahensis "is the first real big predator".[3]

Description

The generic name refers to the "penteconter", an ancient Greek warship, due to similarities in shape and predatory behavior.[2][4][5] It is the oldest described eurypterid, living as early as 467.3 million years ago;[1] at an estimated length of 1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in),[3] or up to 1.83 metres (6 ft 0 in),[2][5] it is also one of the largest known arthropods.[1][3]

Discovery

Scientists from the Iowa Geological Survey and Yale University discovered, as early as 2005 but mostly in 2010, 150 fossil pieces, from at least 30 individuals,[4] about 60 feet below the Upper Iowa River, within the Decorah crater, an ancient meteorite impact crater.[1][3][4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Lamsdell, James C.; Briggs, Derek E. G.; Liu, Huaibao; Witzke, Brian J.; McKay, Robert M. (September 1, 2015). "The oldest described eurypterid: a giant Middle Ordovician (Darriwilian) megalograptid from the Winneshiek Lagerstätte of Iowa". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 15: 169. PMC 4556007 Freely accessible. PMID 26324341. doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0443-9. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Shelton, Jim (August 31, 2015). "Meet Pentecopterus, a new predator from the prehistoric seas". Yale University. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Borenstein, Seth (August 31, 2015). "Fossils show big bug ruled the seas 460 million years ago". AP News. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Netburn, Deborah (August 31, 2015). "Found: A 6-foot-long 'sea scorpion' that lived 450 million years ago". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Staff (September 1, 2015). "Pentecopterus decorahensis: Ancient Giant Sea Scorpion Unearthed in Iowa". Sci-news.com. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  6. ↑ Lamsdell, James C.; Selden, Paul A (2013). "Babes in the wood – a unique window into sea scorpion ontogeny". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 13: 98. PMC 3679797 Freely accessible. PMID 23663507. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-13-98. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
Preceded by Proterozoic Eon Phanerozoic Eon
Paleozoic Era Mesozoic Era Cenozoic Era
Cambrian Ordovician Silurian Devonian Carboniferous Permian Triassic Jurassic Cretaceous Paleogene Neogene 4ry
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