Pentecopterus decorahensis
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Pentecopterus Temporal range: Darriwilian |
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| Artist's reconstruction | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Merostomata |
| Order: | †Eurypterida |
| Family: | †Megalograptidae |
| Genus: |
†Pentecopterus Lamsdell et al., 2015 |
| Species: | †P. decorahensis |
| Binomial name | |
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Pentecopterus decorahensis Lamsdell et al., 2015 |
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Pentecopterus is an extinct genus of sea scorpion that lived during the Middle Ordovician period, as early as 467.3 million years ago. The type and only species, P. decorahensis, is the oldest described eurypterid, and, at an estimated length of up to 1.83 metres (6 ft 0 in), one of the largest known arthropods ever discovered, similar in size to the famous millipede-like Arthropleura. Other notable sea scorpions include the younger Silurian-aged Acutiramus, and Devonian Jaekelopterus, the only arthropod currently known to surpass P. decorahensis in size. According to researcher James Lamsdell of Yale University, P. decorahensis "is the first real big predator".
The generic name refers to the "penteconter", an ancient Greek warship, due to similarities in shape and predatory behavior. It is the oldest described eurypterid, living as early as 467.3 million years ago; at an estimated length of 1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in), or up to 1.83 metres (6 ft 0 in), it is also one of the largest known arthropods.
Scientists from the Iowa Geological Survey and Yale University discovered, as early as 2005 but mostly in 2010, 150 fossil pieces, from at least 30 individuals, about 60 feet below the Upper Iowa River, within the Decorah crater, an ancient meteorite impact crater.
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