Rhenopteridae

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Rhenopteridae
Temporal range: Lower Devonian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Order: Eurypterida
Suborder: Stylonurina
Superfamily: Rhenopteroidea
Family: Rhenopteridae
Størmer, 1951
Type genus
Rhenopterus
Størmer, 1936
Genera

Rhenopteridae are an extinct family of prehistoric eurypterids that lived in the Lower Devonian period in Europe and possibly North America.

Description

Rhenopterids were small, characterized by scattered tubercules and knobs on the outer surface of the exoskeleton. Their first two (or possibly three) pairs of walking legs had spines; the last two pairs were long and powerful, without spines. The prosoma (head) was subtrapezoidal, with arcuate compound eyes on parallel axes. The male genital appendages were short with two distal spines.[1]

References

  1. ^ Størmer, L 1955. Merostomata. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part P Arthropoda 2, Chelicerata, P39.