A sea scorpion claw from the Lower Devonian of China (Chelicerata: Eurypterida)
2014; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 38; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/03115518.2014.870819
ISSN1752-0754
Autores Tópico(s)Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
ResumoAbstract Wang, B. & Gai, Z.K., 2014. A sea scorpion claw from the Lower Devonian of China (Chelicerata: Eurypterida). Alcheringa 38, XX–XX. ISSN 0311–5518.An isolated chelicera (claw) of a pterygotid eurypterid is described from the Lower Devonian Xitun Formation of Yunnan Province, China. It is different from chelicerae of other pterygotids in having four principal denticles and at least four intermediate denticles between the principal denticles on both rami. This Chinese pterygotid, estimated at about 70 cm long, was a top predator that probably hunted small, primitive fishes, such as galeaspids. This discovery represents the first record of Pterygotidae from Asia and the third fossil eurypterid from China.Bo Wang (corresponding author) [savantwang@gmail.com], State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; Steinmann Institute, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; Zhikun Gai [gaizhikun@ivpp.ac.cn], Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China. Received 22.10.2013, revised 15.11.2013, accepted 20.11.2013.本文描述了中国云南省下泥盆统西屯组中的翼肢鲎类广翅鲎的一个孤立的颚角(爪)。它与其它翼肢鲎类的颚角的不同之处在于,它具有四个主齿,主齿之间至少有四个中齿。这个中国翼肢鲎类,估计约70厘米长,是一个顶级掠食者,可能猎杀小的、原始的盔甲鱼。这一发现是亚洲翼肢鲎类的首次记录,是中国第三个化石广翅鲎。Key words: EurypteridsCheliceraePterygotidaeLower DevonianChina. AcknowledgementsWe thank H.C. Zhang, J. Rust and E.A. Jarzembowski for improving an earlier version of this manuscript, J.C. Lamsdell for providing useful suggestions, and J.Q. Wang for providing the specimen. We also thank Markus Poschmann and Paul Selden for reviewing the manuscript and constructive criticisms. This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2012CB821900), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41202015, J1210006), and State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy (Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS; No. 123101). BW was also supported by a Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
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