Detailed Sea Scorpion Balteurypterus tetrangonophtalmus

Description: While Eurypterids (“Sea Scorpions”) are uncommon fossils worldwide, New York state and the Kamenec-Podol’skij Mine of the Ukraine are two of the few places where conditions for preservation have been ideal. They were large arthropod predators during the Silurian and Devonian, reaching a maximum length of 2 meters. The Eurypterids are thought to have been the first creatures to conquer land, at least on a temporary basis. It is presumed to have crawled along the seafloor, using its grasping pincers to seize trilobites and other prey. This fine example has the swimming paddles and several pairs of walking legs preserved. While missing the telson, it is still an exceptional example of of taxon not frequently offered.