Palaeophonus
| Palaeophonus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Model of Palaeophonus nuncius | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Suborder: | |
| Superfamily: | †Palaeophonoidea |
| Family: | †Palaeophonidae |
| Genus: | †Palaeophonus |
| Type species | |
| †Palaeophonus nuncius | |
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]
Palaeophonus and its relatives likely were water scorpions, living in the estuaries to hunt small prey. In any case, these animals highly likely reached the mainland from time to time and would have preyed upon small creatures that lived alongside it, including primitive springtails and millipedes.[7]
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
- ^ Ellie Zolfagharifard Ancient scorpion reveals its land legs: 430 million-year-old fossils suggest the sea creatures may have walked out of the ocean
- 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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