Stylonuridae

Stylonuridae is 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 Stylonuroidea (along with Parastylonuridae), which in turn is one of four superfamilies classified as part of the suborder Stylonurina.

Stylonuridae
Temporal range: Rhuddanian-Famennian, 443.7–358.9 Ma
Fossil elements referred to Ctenopterus.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Order: †Eurypterida
Suborder: †Stylonurina
Superfamily: †Stylonuroidea
Family: †Stylonuridae
Diener, 1924
Type species
†Stylonurus powriensis
Page, 1856
Subgroups
Synonyms
  • Laurieipteridae Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966
  • Pageidae Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966

Stylonuridae, which lived from Early Silurian to the Late Devonian, were small to very large forms with scales developing into tubercules and knobs. The prosoma (head) exhibited variable shape, with arcuate compound eyes located subcentrally, or anteriorly. Their abdomens were slender. Their walking legs were long and powerful, sometimes characterized by spines. Most genera did not have swimming legs.[1]

Description

Stylonurids are stylonuroids with undifferentiated opisthosma with appendages II-IV being spiniferous akin to the genus Ctenopterus, whilst appendages V-VI are non-spiniferous akin to the genus Pagea. The fixed spines on appendages II-IV could have been used as dragnets to rake through the sediment, indiscriminately entangling anything within their sweeping arc. This type of sweep-feeding also occurs in the Hibbertopteroidea, though the adaptations of the hibbertopterids suggests they were more selective feeders.[2]

Systematics and genera

The Stylonuridae is classified within the superfamily Stylonuroidea within the Stylonurina. It contains five genera in total and one recognised subfamily; the Laurieipterinae containing genera Laurieipterus and Ctenopterus. "Laurieipterines" are diagnosed as stylonurids with broad metastoma and an epistoma with a rostral field and were restricted to the Early Silurian.[2]

Family Stylonuridae Diener, 1924

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References
  1. Størmer, L 1955. Merostomata. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part P Arthropoda 2, Chelicerata, P: 36.
  2. James C. Lamsdell, Simon J. Braddy & O. Erik Tetlie (2010). "The systematics and phylogeny of the Stylonurina (Arthropoda: Chelicerata: Eurypterida)". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 8 (1): 49–61. doi:10.1080/14772011003603564.


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