Palaeophonus

Palaeophonus; Temporal range: Wenlock–Early Devonian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Model of Palaeophonus nuncius
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Scorpiones
Suborder:	Lobosternina
Superfamily:	†Palaeophonoidea; Thorell & Lindström, 1884
Family:	†Palaeophonidae; Thorell & Lindström, 1884
Genus:	†Palaeophonus; Thorell & Lindström, 1884
Type species
	†Palaeophonus nuncius; Thorell & Lindström, 1884

Palaeophonus (meaning "ancient killer") is the oldest known genus of scorpions.^[2]

Fossil records

This genus is known in the fossil record from the Silurian to the Carboniferous (age range: 428.2 to 314.6 million years ago). Fossils have been found in Europe, the United States, and Canada.^[3]

Description

Palaeophonus was virtually identical to modern scorpions. It grew to a lengths of 2.5–3.5 in (64–89 mm).^[4] These animals did not have eyes and therefore they were blind.^[5]

Until a few decades ago, Palaeophonus, similarly to many other scorpions of the Silurian, was thought to be one of the earliest animals to have conquered the land. In fact, a closer examination of the fossils has determined that these animals possess well-developed gills, very similar to those of contemporary eurypterids (sea scorpions).^[6]

Species

Species within this genus include:^[3]

†P. arctus Matthew 1894
†P. lightbodyi Kjellesvig-Waering 1954
†P. nuncius Thorell and Lindström 1884
†P. osborni Whitfield 1885

References

^ Laurie, M. (2012). "XIX.—On a Silurian Scorpion and some additional Eurypterid Remains from the Pentland Hills". Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 39 (3): 575–590. doi:10.1017/S0080456800035109.
^ ^a ^b Dunlop, J. A. (2010). "Geological history and phylogeny of Chelicerata". Arthropod Structure & Development. 39 (2–3): 124–142. doi:10.1016/j.asd.2010.01.003.
^ ^a ^b Paleobiology Database
^ G. A. Polis The Biology of scorpions
^ The Eurypterida of New York Volume 1.pdf/408
^ Alexander Petrunkevitch Paleozoic and Mesozoic Arachnida of Europe

Steve Parker (2003). Dinosaurus: the Complete Guide to Dinosaurs. Firefly Books. p. 75. ISBN 978-1-55297-772-9.
Frank H.T. Rodes, Herbert S. Zim en Paul R. Shaffer (1993) - Natuurgids Fossielen (het ontstaan, prepareren en rangschikken van fossielen), Zuidnederlandse Uitgeverij N.V., Aartselaar. ISBN D-1993-0001-361

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[Laurie2012-1] Laurie, M. (2012). "XIX.—On a Silurian Scorpion and some additional Eurypterid Remains from the Pentland Hills". Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 39 (3): 575–590. doi:10.1017/S0080456800035109.

[Dunlop2010-2] Dunlop, J. A. (2010). "Geological history and phylogeny of Chelicerata". Arthropod Structure & Development. 39 (2–3): 124–142. doi:10.1016/j.asd.2010.01.003.

[AA-3] Paleobiology Database

[4] G. A. Polis The Biology of scorpions

[5] The Eurypterida of New York Volume 1.pdf/408

[6] Alexander Petrunkevitch Paleozoic and Mesozoic Arachnida of Europe

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