Carcinosoma

Carcinosoma Temporal range: Late Silurian PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Fossil of C. newlini
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Merostomata
Order:	†Eurypterida
Superfamily:	†Mixopteroidea
Family:	†Carcinosomatidae
Genus:	†Carcinosoma Claypole, 1890
Species
See text

Carcinosoma is a genus of eurypterid found in Late Silurian-aged marine strata of Great Britain and the eastern United States. Various species grew up to 30 centimetres in length.

Description

Carcinosoma were characterized by small to large exoskeletons with scattered minute tubercules or raised tongue-shaped scales. The prosoma (head) was subtriangular, with small compound eyes at the front. The chelicerae (claws in front of the mouth) were small. The walking legs were covered with long spines, and the second pair of walking legs was the longest. The preabdomen, the front portion of the body, was broad and ovate, while the postabdomen was cylindrical and narrow. The telson was a curved spine.^[1]

Species

• Carcinosoma Claypole, 1890
  • ?Carcinosoma harleyi Kjellesvig-Waering, 1961 — Silurian, England
  • Carcinosoma libertyi Copeland & Bolton, 1960 — Silurian, Canada
  • Carcinosoma newlini Claypole, 1890 — Silurian, USA
    • = Carcinosoma ingens Claypole, 1894 — Silurian, USA
  • ?Carcinosoma punctatum (Salter in Huxley & Salter, 1859) — Silurian, England
  • Carcinosoma scorpioides (Woodward, 1868) — Silurian, Scotland
    • = Pterygotus raniceps Woodward, 1868 — Silurian, Scotland
  • Carcinosoma scoticus (Laurie, 1899) — Silurian, Scotland
  • ?Carcinosoma spiniferumKjellesvig-Waering & Heubusch, 1962 — Silurian, USA