Rhenopterus

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Rhenopterus
Temporal range: Lower Devonian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Order: Eurypterida
Superfamily: Rhenopteroidea
Family: Rhenopteridae
Genus: Rhenopterus
Størmer, 1936
Type species
Rhenopterus diensti
Størmer, 1936

Rhenopterus is an extinct prehistoric eurypterid. Rhenopterus 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]

Species

  • Rhenopterus Størmer, 1936
    • Rhenopterus diensti Størmer, 1936 — Lower Devonian, Germany
    • Rhenopterus macrotuberculatus Størmer, 1974 - Devonian, Alken an der Mosel
    • Rhenopterus tuberculatus Størmer, 1936 - Devonian, Germany

References

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