Proscorpius

Proscorpius (meaning 'dawn scorpion') is an extinct genus of proscorpiid scorpion that was originally thought to have been a eurypterid.[2] Proscorpius lived during the Silurian and Devonian periods (about 422.9–416.0 ma). The type and only species, Proscorpius osborni is currently the world's oldest scorpion. It was discovered in the Lagerstätte Bertie Formation (Fiddlers Green Member);[3] an epifaunal stratum of New York.[4] The fossil measures roughly 3.8 cm (1.5 inches) in length, however, it is missing part of the tail, so in life the animal would be slightly longer.[1]

Proscorpius
Temporal range: Wenlock-Lochkovian, 422.9–416.0 Ma
Drawing of the type specimen.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: †Proscorpiidae
Genus: †Proscorpius
Whitfield, 1885[1]
Type species
†Proscorpius osborni
(Whitfield, 1885)[1]
Synonyms
  • Archaeophonus eurypteroides Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966
  • Stoermeroscorpio delicatus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966

See also

References
  1. Whitfield, R. P. (31 July 1885). "An American Silurian Scorpion". Science. ns-6 (130): 87–88. doi:10.1126/science.ns-6.130.87. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 17808848.
  2. Dunlop, J. A.; Penney, D. & Jekel, D. (2019), "A summary list of fossil spiders and their relatives (version 20)" (PDF), World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2019-07-22
  3. Passage Gulf at Fossilworks.org
  4. Andrew Jeram (June 16, 1990). "When scorpions ruled the world". New Scientist.


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