Pentecopterus
| Pentecopterus Temporal range:
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|---|---|
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| Artist's reconstruction | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Order: | †Eurypterida |
| Family: | †Megalograptidae |
| Genus: | †Pentecopterus Lamsdell et al., 2015 |
| Species: | †P. decorahensis
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| Binomial name | |
| †Pentecopterus decorahensis Lamsdell et al., 2015
| |
Pentecopterus[1][2][3][4] is an extinct genus of sea scorpion that lived during the Middle Ordovician period, as early as 467.3 million years ago.[1] The type and only species, P. decorahensis, 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 younger 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
- ^ a b c d e 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. doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0443-9. PMC 4556007. PMID 26324341. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ a b c d Shelton, Jim (August 31, 2015). "Meet Pentecopterus, a new predator from the prehistoric seas". Yale University. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Borenstein, Seth (August 31, 2015). "Fossils show big bug ruled the seas 460 million years ago". AP News. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b c Staff (September 1, 2015). "Pentecopterus decorahensis: Ancient Giant Sea Scorpion Unearthed in Iowa". Sci-news.com. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Lamsdell, James C.; Selden, Paul A (2013). "Babes in the wood – a unique window into sea scorpion ontogeny". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 13: 98. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-13-98. PMC 3679797. PMID 23663507. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
| Preceded by the Proterozoic Eon |
Phanerozoic Eon | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paleozoic Era | Mesozoic Era | Cenozoic Era | ||||||||||
| Cambrian | Ordovician | Silurian | Devonian | Carboniferous | Permian | Triassic | Jurassic | Cretaceous | Paleogene | Neogene | 4ry | |
