Natural History, including Apex the Stegosaurus
Natural History, including Apex the Stegosaurus
Fossil Eurypterid (Sea Scorpion) Plate
Upper Silurian (approx. 420 million years ago), Herkimer Co., New York
No reserve
Auction Closed
July 17, 03:28 PM GMT
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Fossil Eurypterid (Sea Scorpion) Plate
Eurypterus remipes
Upper Silurian (approx. 420 million years ago)
Herkimer Co., New York
20¼ x 12¼ x 1⅝ inches (51.4 x 31.1 x 4.1 cm), 23 inches (58.4 cm) tall on stand. Largest euryterpid specimen measures 7½ inches in length. 34 pounds (17.2 kg).
Three complete and intact eurypterids preserved in a rock slab. Also included is a disarticulated carapace of another individual. Stabilized repair work is visible on the reverse side from a break in the rock; hence, the Eurypterus on the front may be partially restored.
Eurypterids – also known as sea scorpions – thrived all over the world from the Ordovician to the end of the Permian, or about 470 million to 250 million years ago. Fierce predators, their meals would have consisted of trilobites, worms, fish, and even other eurypterids. As arthropods, they are the extinct relatives of crustaceans, insects, arachnids, centipedes, and also scorpions. Although most eurypterid species were quite small, the species Acutiramus macrophthalmus could grow to more than eight feet in length, making it the largest arthropod ever to live.
Eurypterids were first discovered in New York State, and the State Fossil of New York is Eurypterus remipes, as offered here (these specimens were found in Herkimer County, New York). E. remipes accounts for more than 90% of all known eurypterid fossils, many of which have been extremely well preserved, thus providing us with important scientific knowledge of the fauna of the Silurian and Devonian time periods.