Unknown

Dataset Information

0

A new mid-Silurian aquatic scorpion-one step closer to land?


ABSTRACT: One of the oldest known fossil scorpions, a new species from the mid-Silurian Eramosa Formation (430 myr) of Ontario, Canada, exhibits several surprising features. The depositional environment and associated biota indicate a marine habitat; however, the leg morphology of this scorpion, which has a short tarsus in common with all Recent scorpions, suggests that a key adaptation for terrestrial locomotion, the ability to support its weight on a subterminal 'foot', appeared remarkably early in the scorpion fossil record. Specimens are preserved intact and undisturbed in a splayed posture typical of moults rather than carcasses. We postulate that these animals were aquatic, but occasionally ventured into extremely shallow water, or onto a transient subaerially exposed surface while moulting, before returning to deeper water. Shed exuviae were preserved in situ by rapid overgrowth of bacterial biofilm.

SUBMITTER: Waddington J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4321148 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

A new mid-Silurian aquatic scorpion-one step closer to land?

Waddington Janet J   Rudkin David M DM   Dunlop Jason A JA  

Biology letters 20150101 1


One of the oldest known fossil scorpions, a new species from the mid-Silurian Eramosa Formation (430 myr) of Ontario, Canada, exhibits several surprising features. The depositional environment and associated biota indicate a marine habitat; however, the leg morphology of this scorpion, which has a short tarsus in common with all Recent scorpions, suggests that a key adaptation for terrestrial locomotion, the ability to support its weight on a subterminal 'foot', appeared remarkably early in the  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC3010847 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC8019598 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10598307 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10531472 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC11646613 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10425952 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7874411 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6965631 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3779156 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5206668 | biostudies-literature