Eurypterus remipes
The eurypterids, or sea scorpions, are an extinct group of chelicerate arthropods. They have an elongated, scorpion-like body that could reach enormous sizes (2.5 to 3 meters!), with a nonmineralizing exoskeleton composed of chitinous material. They are generally found in shallow to very shallow water marine and marginal marine facies.
Eurypterus remipes DeKay, 1825 is a classic example of this bizarre group of creatures. It, and other eurypterid species, is well represented in the famous Bertie Dolomite of New York State, USA.
Classification: Animalia, Arthropoda, Chelicerata, Merostomata, Xiphosura, Eurypterida, Eurypteridae
Stratigraphy: Phelps Member, Fiddlers Green Formation, Bertie Dolomite Group, Upper Silurian.
Locality: Allan Lang Quarry, southern Herkimer County, New York State, USA.
Eurypterus remipes DeKay, 1825 partial specimen (11.7 cm long) in fine-grained dolostone, lacking preabdomen and most of postabdomen.
Eurypterus remipes DeKay, 1825 - closeup of head (prosoma) showing four walking appendages (labeled below) and swimming appendages with paddles at distal ends (7.5 cm across).
Eurypterus remipes DeKay, 1825 - closeup of 3rd walking appendage on specimen shown above (1.15 cm long).
Eurypterus remipes DeKay, 1825 partial specimen (12.5 cm long) in fine-grained dolostone, lacking paddles (distal ends of swimming appendages), pretelson & telson (posterior end of the body). The last four segments are part of the postabdomen. The seven segments anterior to that make up the preabdomen.