1.7" Eurypterus Sea Scorpion Fossil Eurypterid Silurian 420 Mil Yrs Old New York Stand

Location: Buffalo, New York, Bertie Green Formation

Weight: 6.8 Ounces 

Dimensions: 2.8 Inches Long, 2.7 Inches Wide, 0.7 Inches Thick (Plate)

Sea Scorpion Dimensions: 1.7 Inches Long, 1.9 Inches Wide 

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Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

Upper Silurian, 420 Million Years old

Eurypterids, often called “sea scorpions,” represent an extinct lineage of arthropods that flourished throughout the Paleozoic era, especially between the Ordovician and Permian periods, approximately 485 to 250 million years ago. These remarkable creatures belong to the class Merostomata and share a close evolutionary relationship with contemporary horseshoe crabs. Their name is derived from the Greek terms “eurys,” meaning “wide,” and “pteron,” meaning “wing” or “fin,” a nod to their broad, flattened limb structures.

Morphology and Anatomy

Eurypterids exhibited a diverse range of sizes, with some species measuring just a few centimeters in length while others could grow over two meters long. Their body structure typically consisted of a segmented body divided into three main parts: the prosoma (head), mesosome (thorax), and metasoma (abdomen). The prosoma was equipped with compound eyes and various appendages, including chelicerae (mouthparts) used for grasping prey. The mesosome contained several pairs of walking legs, while the metasoma often ended in a long, pointed tail spine known as a telson.

The exoskeleton of eurypterids was composed of chitin and provided protection against predators. Some species also possessed specialized adaptations such as gills for respiration, allowing them to inhabit both marine environments and freshwater ecosystems.

Ecology and Behavior

Eurypterids were mainly carnivorous predators that fed on smaller marine creatures such as fish, mollusks, and other invertebrates. Evidence of their diet comes from fossilized stomach contents found in some specimens. They likely used a combination of ambush and active hunting strategies, moving quickly with the help of their many legs. Fossils indicate eurypterids occupied a range of ecological roles, with some species living in shallow coastal waters while others adapted to deeper marine or freshwater environments. This flexibility helped them thrive throughout the Paleozoic era.

Extinction

The decline of eurypterids began towards the end of the Paleozoic era, culminating in their extinction during the Permian-Triassic mass extinction event approximately 252 million years ago. This event is considered one of the most significant biodiversity crises in Earth’s history, leading to the loss of around 90% of marine species at that time. While several factors contributed to this extinction, including climate change, volcanic activity, and changes in sea levels, eurypterids were unable to survive these drastic environmental shifts.