Austrolimulidae

Austrolimulidae
Temporal range: Kungurian–Hettangian
Fossils of Austrolimulus (top), Tasmaniolimulus (left), and Dubbolimulus (right)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Order: Xiphosura
Superfamily: Limuloidea
Family: Austrolimulidae
Riek, 1955

Austrolimulidae is an extinct family of horseshoe crabs belonging to the infraorder Limulina. Members of the family are known from the Permian to the beginning of the Jurassic, though one species has been reported from the end of the Cretaceous. Austrolimulids are known for amongst the most extreme morphologies among Xiphosurids, including large elongated genal spines. Unlike living Limulids, Austrolimulids were likely adapted for freshwater and brackish environments.[1] They are considered to be the sister group to Limulidae, the group that contains all modern horseshoe crabs.[2]

  1. ^ Bicknell, Russell D. C.; Pates, Stephen (2020). "Pictorial Atlas of Fossil and Extant Horseshoe Crabs, With Focus on Xiphosurida". Frontiers in Earth Science. 8: 98. Bibcode:2020FrEaS...8...98B. doi:10.3389/feart.2020.00098. ISSN 2296-6463.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lamsdell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).