Acheronauta

Acheronauta
Temporal range: Telychian–Sheinwoodian
Reconstruction of A. stimulapis (based on Morph B specimens)
Reconstruction of Morph A
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Genus: †Acheronauta
Pulsipher, 2022
Species:
†A. stimulapis
Binomial name
†Acheronauta stimulapis
Pulsipher, 2022

Acheronauta is a genus of extinct worm-shaped arthropod that lived in the early Silurian (Telychian-Sheinwoodian stages) Waukesha biota fossil site in southeast Wisconsin.[1] This arthropod was first discovered alongside the biota in 1985, but was not fully described until October 2022.[1][2][3] This creature was recognized and described as a possible early mandibulate (the grouping of arthropods including crustaceans and hexapods).[1] This description is very important as much of the fauna of the biota remain undescribed, and its discovery has allowed for paleontologists to get a better grasp of the diversity of the arthropod fauna at the site.[1] Multiple phylogenetic analyses were performed, and it was found that this arthropod forms a previously undiscovered clade with the Devonian stem-arthropod Captopodus, and the somewhat enigmatic group Thylacocephala.[1]

Acheronauta has been assessed as a possible basal mandibulate, which are distinguished from other arthropods due to the presence of mandibles.[4] While its specific placement in the mandibulate family tree has not been fully known, it is accepted to occupy a position near the base of the grouping.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Pulsipher, M. A.; Anderson, E. P.; Wright, L. S.; Kluessendorf, J.; Mikulic, D. G.; Schiffbauer, J. D. (2022). "Description of Acheronauta gen. nov., a possible mandibulate from the Silurian Waukesha Lagerstätte, Wisconsin, USA". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 20 (1). 2109216. doi:10.1080/14772019.2022.2109216. S2CID 252839113.
  2. ^ Mikulic, D.G.; Briggs, D.E.G.; Kluessendorf, J. (1985). "A new exceptionally preserved biota from the Lower Silurian of Wisconsin, U.S.A." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B. 311 (1148): 75–85. Bibcode:1985RSPTB.311...75M. doi:10.1098/rstb.1985.0140.
  3. ^ Wendruff, A.J.; Babcock, L.E.; Kluessendorf, J.; Mikulic, D.G. (2020). "Paleobiology and Taphonomy of exceptionally preserved organisms from the Waukesha Biota (Silurian), Wisconsin, USA". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 546: 109631. Bibcode:2020PPP...54609631W. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.109631. S2CID 212824469.
  4. ^ Latin Dictionary Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary revised by Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.