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Pterygotus facts for kids

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Pterygotus anglicus reconstruction
Restoration.

Pterygotus anglicus is an extinct Eurypterid, related to arachnids (the spider family) and commonly called "sea scorpions." It lived in the Silurian and Devonian periods.

Fossils have been found in North America, South America, Europe and Australia. It is related to the larger Jaekelopterus. It is similar to the freshwater Slimonia.

Pterygotus could reach a body length of 1.6 metres (5 ft 3 in). It had a pair of large compound eyes. It also had another pair of smaller eyes in the center of its head. It had 4 pairs of walking legs. A fifth pair of legs were swimming paddles. It also had a pair of large pincers.

Images for kids

  • Model eurypterida

    Pterygotus model in the Czech National Museum, Prague.

  • Pterygotus problematicus

    Fossils described by John William Salter as belonging to "Pterygotus problematicus" in 1852. This species is now considered a nomen vanum.

  • The Eurypterida of New York figure np 1

    Painting painted in 1912 by Charles R. Knight depicting various eurypterids discovered in New York. The painting includes Dolichopterus, Eusarcana, Stylonurus, Eurypterus and Hughmilleria. Pterygotus can be seen in the center-left.

  • A monograph of the British fossil Crustacea (Pl. VI) (7394011872)

    Telson of P. anglicus.

  • Eurypterids of the Devonian Holland Quarry Shale of Ohio figure 42

    Fossil tergite of P. carmani, preserving the scale-like ornamentation characteristic of pterygotid eurypterids.

  • Pterygotus, sea scorpion, Silurian, Fiddlers Green Formation, Phelps Member, Lang's Quarry, Herkimer County, New York, USA - Houston Museum of Natural Science - DSC01993

    Fossilized specimens of P. monroensis discovered in the Late Silurian Fiddlers Green Formation of New York, United States.

  • Jaekelopterus rhenaniae reconstruction

    Jaekelopterus was closely related to Pterygotus. Some researchers suspect that they may represent the same genus.

  • Pterygotus abelov

    Restoration depicting Pterygotus hunting Birkenia.

  • A monograph of the British fossil Crustacea (Pl. II) (7394006028)

    Illustration of fossils of P. anglicus, including a nearly complete specimen and a thoracic segment.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pterygotus para niños

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