Mixopteridae

The Mixopteridae are a family of eurypterids, an extinct group of chelicerate arthropods commonly known as "sea scorpions". The family is one of two families contained in the superfamily Carcinosomatoidea (along with Carcinosomatidae), which in turn is one of the superfamilies classified as part of the suborder Eurypterina.

Mixopteridae
Temporal range: Late Silurian, 426.2–416 Ma
Fossil of Mixopterus kiaeri exhibited at the Moscow Paleontological Museum.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Order: †Eurypterida
Infraorder: †Diploperculata
Superfamily: †Carcinosomatoidea
Family: †Mixopteridae
Ruedemann, 1921
Type species
†Mixopterus multispinosus
Ruedemann, 1921
Genera
Synonyms
  • Lanarkopteridae Tollerton, 1989

Description

Mixopterids were characterized by large exoskeletons with scattered tubercles or semicircular scales. The prosoma (head) was subquadrate, protruding antemedially. The chelicerae (claws in front of the mouth) were small. The first two pairs of walking legs were strongly developed, with long paired spines. The third and fourth walking legs were moderately sized, with short spines. The preabdomen, the front portion of the body, was narrow with axial furrows, while the postabdomen was narrow. The telson was a curved spine.[1]

Genera
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See also
  • List of eurypterids

References
  1. Størmer, L 1955. Merostomata. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part P Arthropoda 2, Chelicerata, P34-P35.


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