Topic
Eurypterid
About: Eurypterid is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 146 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2584 citations. The topic is also known as: Eurypterida.
Papers published on a yearly basis
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Papers
TL;DR: The distribution and dispersal histories of Eurypterida are examined in a phylogenetic and palaeogeographic context in this article, where it is suggested that all the eurypterid clades originated and had most of their evolutionary history on the palaeocontinents of Laurentia, Baltica, Avalonia, the Rheno-Hercynian Terrane and some presence in Siberia.
85 citations
TL;DR: In response to certain anatomical and physiological constraints which otherwise would have rendered the animals unstable in the walking position, the post-abdomen and telson have been specialised as hydrodynamic structures for monitoring water movements and vectoring the animal for maximum walking efficiency.
Abstract: Eurypterids of the Superfamily Stylonuroidea Diener 1924 sensu Stormer (1974, 373) from the Pentland Hills, Midlothian, are redescribed and the evidence which these forms may give concerning the life environment of the Gutterford Burn Eurypterid Bed (Upper Llandovery), from which most of them have been obtained, is considered. Five species are recognised. Parastylonurus ornatus (Laurie) is redescribed with special reference to the organs of locomotion and reproduction. A new form from the Gutterford Burn is described as Parastylonurus hendersoni sp. nov. Stylonurus macrophthalmus Laurie is designated the type species of the new genus Hardieopterus and Stylonurus knoxae Lamont as the type species of the new genus Lamontopterus. The unique holotype of Lamontopterus knoxae is of morphological interest in showing evidence of the gut.Stylonuroids from other Scottish Silurian localities are also considered. Two new species, Brachyopterella ritchiei sp. nov. from Seggholm and Hardieopterus (?) lanarki sp. nov. from the Logan Water are described. Stylonurella spinipes (Page) is redescribed and this species is reported for the first time from Seggholm.The new information provided by this study has raised a number of problems of classification and the criteria upon which eurypterids are classified, and particularly those applied to the stylonuroid eurypterids, are re-assessed and a new classification of the Stylonuroidea proposed. This has required the description of new taxa; a new family, the Parastylonuridae, is proposed to accommodate Parastylonurus, Hardieopterus and probably Lamontopterus which share a unique combination of characters of the prosomal appendages and metastoma. A new genus, Kiaeropterus, is described to accommodate certain species previously assigned to Stylonurella but displaced from that genus as now emended.A reconstruction of Parastylonurus ornatus in the walking position is attempted and has resulted in the recognition of a new generation of problems related to the functional morphology of these animals. Criteria which may appropriately be used in deciding the manner in which they walked and the posture which they adopted when doing so, are discussed. It is suggested that, in response to certain anatomical and physiological constraints which otherwise would have rendered the animals unstable in the walking position, the post-abdomen and telson have been specialised as hydrodynamic structures for monitoring water movements and vectoring the animal for maximum walking efficiency. The significance of this hypothesis is discussed in relation to the functional morphology and evolution of other members of the Stylonuroidea.
57 citations
TL;DR: Recurrent patterns of disarticulation and dislocations of the eurypterid exoskeleton reflect biological processes and can be used to distinguish moults from carcases, a prerequisite to understanding the palaeobiology of the Eurypterida.
55 citations
TL;DR: The fossil remains of eurypterid cuticles have been found to yield long-chain aliphatic components similar to type II kerogen during pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, in contrast to chitin and protein that constitute the bulk of modern analogs as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The fossil remains of eurypterid cuticles in this study yield long-chain (
52 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The Pterygotidae comprise two genera Agassiz and Erettopterus Salter, and four subgenera as discussed by the authors, and the morphology of the chelicera is reviewed, showing four joints rather than three.
Abstract: The Pterygotidae comprise two genera, Pterygotus Agassiz and Erettopterus Salter, and four subgenera. Possible species and subspecies are: 37 for P. (Pterygotus), 7 for P. (Acutiramus), 17 for E. (Erettopterus), 6 for E. (Truncatiramus). The stratigraphic range is Middle Ordovician to Middle Devonian; distribution is worldwide. The morphology of the chelicera is reviewed, showing four joints rather than three. Specimens are described from Estonia, Scotland, Libya, Bolivia, and Northwest Territories; five new species include P. (P.) marylandicus from the Keefer Sandstone, Silurian, Maryland, and E. (E.) saetiger from the Bloomsburg Shale, Silurian, Pennsylvania. A complete checklist, a catalog of synonymy, and a bibliography are included.
52 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4 |