Pterygotus

Pterygotus
Temporal range: Middle Silurian - Late Devonian, 428–372.2 Ma
Fossils of P. anglicus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Order: Eurypterida
Superfamily: Pterygotioidea
Family: Pterygotidae
Genus: Pterygotus
Agassiz, 1839
Type species
Pterygotus anglicus
Agassiz, 1849
Species
17 valid species
  • P. anglicus
    Agassiz, 1849
  • P. arcuatus
    Salter, 1859
  • P. barrandei
    Semper, 1898
  • P. bolivianus
    Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964
  • P. carmani
    Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961
  • P. cobbi
    Hall, 1859
  • P. denticulatus
    Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961
  • P. floridanus
    Kjellesvig-Waering, 1950
  • P. gaspesiensis
    Russell, 1953
  • †?P. grandidentatus
    Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961
  • †?P. impacatus
    Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964
  • P. kopaninensis
    Barrande, 1872
  • P. lanarkensis
    Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964
  • P. lightbodyi
    Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961
  • P. ludensis
    Salter, 1859
  • P. marylandicus
    Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964
  • P. monroensis
    Sarle, 1902
6 dubious species
  • †?P. australis
    McCoy, 1899
  • †?P. formosus
    (Dawson, 1861)
  • P. nobilis
    Barrande, 1872
  • P. siemiradzkii
    Strand, 1926
  • P. taurinus
    Salter, 1868
  • †?P. vernonensis
    Ruedemann, 1921
Synonyms
Genus synonymy
  • Curviramus
    Ruedemann, 1935
Synonyms of P. anglicus
  • P. atlanticus
    Clarke & Ruedemann, 1912
  • P. minor
    Woodward, 1864
Synonyms of P. barrandei
  • P. beraunensis
    Semper, 1898

Pterygotus is a genus of giant predatory eurypterid, a group of extinct aquatic arthropods. Fossils of Pterygotus have been discovered in deposits ranging in age from Middle Silurian to Late Devonian, and have been referred to several different species. Fossils have been recovered from four continents; Australia, Europe, North America and South America, which indicates that Pterygotus might have had a nearly cosmopolitan (worldwide) distribution. The type species, P. anglicus, was described by Swiss naturalist Louis Agassiz in 1839, who gave it the name Pterygotus, meaning "winged one". Agassiz mistakenly believed the remains were of a giant fish; he would only realize the mistake five years later in 1844.

Pterygotus was among the largest eurypterids. Isolated fossil remains of a large chelicera (frontal appendage) suggests that the largest known species, P. grandidentatus, reached a body length of 1.75 metres (5.7 ft). Several other species, notably P. impacatus at 1.65 metres (5.4 ft) and P. anglicus at 1.6 metres (5.2 ft) were similarly gigantic. Pterygotus was surpassed in size by other giant eurypterids. Acutiramus was able to surpass 2 metres (6.6 ft), and Jaekelopterus could reach 2.6 metres (8.5 ft). Many species were considerably smaller than the largest species, such as P. kopaninensis at 50 centimetres (20 in). Pterygotus may have weighed around 30 kilogramms.[1]

Like its close relative Jaekelopterus, Pterygotus was a large and active predator noted for its robust and enlarged cheliceral claws that would have allowed it to puncture and grasp prey and a visual acuity (clarity of vision) comparable to that of modern predatory arthropods.

  1. ^ Dinosaurier-Freilichtmuseum und Naturdenkmal Dinosaurierfährten Münchehagen (2012). Museumsführer [Museum guide] (1st ed.). Rehburg-Loccum, Münchehagen: Nationaler Geotop, National Geographic Society. p. 15.