What are Eurpterids?

EURYPTERIDS, also known as Sea Scorpions, are an extinct class of arthropods related to modern sea chelerates such as horseshoe and spiders. Eupterids grew from several inches to huge jaekelopterus , which reached 2.5 m (8.2 ft) or more in length and competes with the Carbon myriepus (centider) Arthropleura for the title of the highest arthropod. However, typical eupteride was only 20 cm (8 inches). 200 fossil species are known. Mammals, on the other hand, existed only about half of that time and dinosaurs a little more than half. Because they appeared almost at the beginning of the paleozoic era and died out at the end, Eurpterides are considered an iconic paleozoic organism. EURYPTERIDS disappeared during Permian-Tiassic Extinction, the most serious mass of extinct in the country's history. From the point of view of an evolutionary biologist, the death of Eurpterids could be considered the end of the success of large arthropods in earthly ecosystems.

EURPterids superficially resemble modern scorpions, toto which they are connected. Instead of having a curved Stinger at their ends, they had a long spine that probably did not play a big role in hunting. As with horseshoes, it probably helped maneuvering animals with water and was also used to repair if it turned over.

There is no evidence that eupterides were poisonous. Some had claws, but more primitive eupterides were just using their feed parts, Chelicerae, to get food. Sometimes, however, these Chelicerae is carelessly called "claws". Eurpterids had a strong shell attached to paddles that were used for swimming and/or digging. Under their carapace, they snake four legs for scuttling. Eupterids had small, simple eyes to localize prey.

Instead of swimming water like some other predators, Eupterids mostly crawled along the bottom. EURPterides rare as fossils mostly lived in brackish water or lagoon than in openEnem Sea. When they often lived near the country, it was speculated that Eupterids might have spent part of his life cycle on Earth (a reality supported by the discovery of earthly fossils from Cambrian, at a time when there is no ground life except for microbes).

EURYPTERIDS is expected to consume fish and other arthropods such as crustaceans. Their Chelicerae shows a fine branch structure that would help them collect numerous small particles of foods such as a filter feeder.