Xiphosurid Horseshoe Crab Ancestor with Preserved Chelicerae

Part and Counterpart

Xiphosurid Horseshoe Crab Ancestor

Class Merostomata, Order Xiphosurida

Geological Time: Ordovician

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 35 mm long by 16 mm wide on a 90 mm by 80 mm and 85 mm by 60 mm matrix pair

Fossil Site: Fezouata Formation, Zagora, Morocco

Fossil Code: 15057

Price: Sold


Xiphosurida Fossil for Sale This arthropod is a member of the Xiphosurida. These ancient relatives resemble the modern-day horseshoe crabs referred to some as “living fossils” due to the fact that they have changed but little over time. This one is in excellent shape, showing detail of the prosoma (head), opisthosoma (abdomen), telson, (tail) and chelicerae (mouthparts) in both part and counterpart. This is the first example I have had that preserves the maothparts for which the subphylum Chelicerata are named.. Sometimes it is difficult in photographs to determine part and counterpart. The positive in on the larger matrix half. See my other postings for an example with preserved limbs.

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