Pterygotus anglicus

Pterygotus Temporal range: Late Silurian-Middle Devonian, 428–391 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Fossils of P. anglicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Merostomata
Order:	†Eurypterida
Superfamily:	†Pterygotioidea
Family:	†Pterygotidae
Genus:	†Pterygotus Agassiz, 1839
Type species
†Pterygotus anglicus Agassiz, 1844
Species
18 valid species †P. anglicus Agassiz, 1844 †P. arcuatus Salter, 1859 †?P. australis McCoy, 1899 †P. barrandei Semper, 1898 †P. bolivianus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964 †P. carmani Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961 †P. cobbi Hall, 1859 †P. denticulatus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961 †P. floridanus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1950 †P. gaspesiensis Russell, 1953 †?P. grandidentatus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961 †?P. impacatus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964 †P. kopaninensis Barrande, 1872 †P. lanarkensis Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964 †P. lightbodyi Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961 †P. ludensis Salter, 1859 †P. marylandicus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1964 †P. monroensis Sarle, 1902 4 dubious species †?P. formosus Dawson, 1871 †P. nobilis Barrande, 1872 †P. siemiradzkii Strand, 1926 †P. taurinus Salter, 1868
Synonyms
Genus synonymy Curviramus Ruedemann, 1935 Synonyms of P. anglicus P. atlanticus Clarke & Ruedemann, 1912 P. minor Woodward, 1864 Synonyms of P. barrandei P. beraunensis Semper, 1898

Pterygotus is a genus of giant predatory eurypterid, an extinct group of aquatic arthropods. Fossils of Pterygotus have been discovered in deposits ranging in age from Late Silurian to Early Devonian, and have been referred to several different species. Fossils have been recovered from four continents; Australia, Europe, North America and South America, which indicates that Pterygotus might have had a nearly cosmopolitan (worldwide) distribution. The type species, P. anglicus, was described by swiss naturalist Louis Agassiz in 1839. Agassiz mistakenly believed the remains were of a giant fish, with the name Pterygotus translating to "winged fish". He would only realize the mistake five years later in 1844.

Pterygotus was among the largest eurypterids. Isolated fossil remains of a large chelicera (frontal appendage) suggests that the largest known species, P. grandidentatus, reached a body length of 1.75 metres (5 ft 8 in). Several other species, notably P. impacatus at 1.65 m (5.4 ft) and P. anglicus at 1.6 m (5.2 ft) were similarly gigantic. Pterygotus was surpassed in size by other giant eurypterids such as Acutiramus and Jaekelopterus, and many species were considerably smaller than the largest species, such as P. kopaninensis at 50 cm (19.7 in).

Like its close relative Jaekelopterus, Pterygotus was a large and active predator noted for its robust and enlarged cheliceral claws that would have allowed it to puncture and grasp prey and a visual acuity (clarity of vision) comparable with modern predatory arthropods.

With the largest species, P. grandidentatus, reaching a body length of 1.75 metres (5 ft 8 in), Pterygotus was among the largest known eurypterids to have existed, though some of its close relatives (such as Acutiramus and Jaekelopterus) surpassed it in length. Though there were a few gigantic species, such as P. grandidentatus, P. impacatus (1.65 m, 5.4 ft) and P. anglicus (1.6 m, 5.2 ft), many species were considerably smaller in size. The smallest species, P. kopaninensis, measured just 50 cm (19.7 in) in length.

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