Pterygotus

Pterygotus Temporal range: Silurian–Devonian PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Diagram of the underside of Pterygotus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Merostomata
Order:	†Eurypterida
Superfamily:	†Pterygotioidea
Family:	†Pterygotidae
Genus:	†Pterygotus Agassiz, 1839
Type species
Pterygotus anglicus  Agassiz, 1844

Pterygotus (meaning wing-animal or finned one) is the second-largest known eurypterid, or sea scorpion and one of the largest arthropods of all time.

Description

Pterygotus and Eurypterus viewed from above, in Haeckel's Kunstformen der Natur

Pterygotid eurypterids, which lived from the Early Silurian to Devonian periods, were characterized by small to large exoskeletons with semilunar scales. The telson (tail) was expanded, or flatter than it was tall. Pterygotids also had chelicerae (claws in front of the mouth) that were large and long, with strong, well developed teeth on the claws. Their walking legs were small and slender, without spines.

Pterygotus is distinguishable from other Pterygotids by the curved distal margin of the chelae. The prosoma (head) is subtrapezoidal (a trapezoid with rounded corners), with compound eyes located near the edge of the front corners. The telson has a pronounced dorsal carina (or keel) running down its center, terminating in a short spine.

Pterygotus could reach a length of 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in), had a pair of large compound eyes, as well as another pair of smaller eyes in the center of its head. It had 4 pairs of walking legs, a fifth pair modified into swimming paddles, and a pair of large chelae (pincers) for subduing prey. The foremost 6 tergites, or tail sections, contained gills and the reproductive organs of the animal.

Ecology

Pterygotus was an accomplished swimmer and could move with speed and agility through the water. It would swim by flapping its long, flat tail up and down; the broad, flat part at the end would push it through the water in much the same way as the fluke on the whale's tail does. It would steer and stabilize itself using its legs. The larger pair of Pterygotus' eyes strongly suggests that it was a visually oriented predator. It used its paddles to swim, though, it could probably accelerate by using its tail as a third paddle.

It was one of the top predators in the Paleozoic seas. It lived in shallow coastal areas, hunting fish, trilobites and other animals using stealth. It would have ambushed its prey by burying itself in sand. Then, when a fish or other unwitting animals came within range, Pterygotus would rise up and grab it with its claws.

Stratigraphy and biogeography

Pterygotus first arose during the Silurian period, and eventually died out during the early to mid-Devonian. It was related to the larger Jaekelopterus and the freshwater Slimonia. Fossils have been found in all continents except for Antarctica.

Fossils of Pterygotus are relatively common, although complete skeletons are rare. It was one of the last of the gigantic sea scorpions: later species were much smaller and more nimble. The decline of the larger sea scorpions may be related to their relative slowness and possible vulnerability during molting, since they could not escape to land like smaller sea scorpions. However, the latter is unlikely since Pterygotus was such a large creature.

Species

• Pterygotus anglicus Agassiz, 1844 — Devonian, Scotland & Canada
• Pterygotus arcuatus Salter in Huxley & Salter, 1859 — Devonian, England
• ?Pterygotus australis McCoy, 1899 — Silurian, Australia
• Pterygotus barrandei Semper, 1898 — Silurian, Czech Republic
• Pterygotus bolivianus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964 — Devonian, Bolivia
• Pterygotus carmani Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961 — Devonian, USA
• Pterygotus cobbi Hall, 1859 — Silurian, USA, Canada
• Pterygotus denticulatus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961 — Silurian, England
• Pterygotus floridanus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1950 — Devonian, USA
• Pterygotus gaspesiensis Russell, 1953 — Devonian, Canada
• ?Pterygotus grandidentatus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961 — Silurian England
• ?Pterygotus impacatus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964 — Silurian, Estonia
• Pterygotus kopaninensis Barrande, 1872 — Silurian, Czech Republic
• Pterygotus lanarkensis Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964 — Silurian, Scotland
• Pterygotus lightbodyi Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961 — Silurian England
• Pterygotus ludensis Salter in Huxley & Salter, 1859 — Silurian, England
• Pterygotus marylandicus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964 — Silurian, USA
• Pterygotus monroensis Sarle 1902 — Silurian, USA

In popular culture

Pterygotus was featured in the Silurian portion of the first episode of the BBC series Walking with Monsters, where it menaced a Brontoscorpio that was pursuing the Devonian jawless fish Cephalaspis.

Sources

• Haines, Tim and Paul Chambers. The Complete Guide to Prehistoric Life. Pg. 25. Canada: Firefly Books Ltd. 2006.