Protoischnurus axelrodorum
Subphylum Chelicerata, Class Arachnida, Order Scorpiones, Family Hemiscorpiidae
Geological Time: Lower Cretaceous
Size: (25.4mm=1 inch): Scorpion fossil is 20 mm long, 15 mm across; Matrix: 87 by 57
Fossil Site: Santana Formation, Crato Member, Nova Olinda, Ceara, Brazil
Fossil Code: GF65
Price: $1995.00 - sold
 This
fine example shows a scorpion with preserved pedipalps, body, and
tail. Little material from this treasure trove ever becomes available,
with scorpions one of the most rare of fossils. The fossil record
for scorpions extends back to the Silurian some 400 million years
ago. By 110 million years ago, they closely resembled their modern-day
counterparts, as can be seen here. Examples from the Mesozoic and
Tertiary are quite rare, making this a highly-desired specimen.
The price here reflects both the rarity of such a specimen and
the fact that it is in a fine preservation state. Interestingly,
modern-day scorpion hunters use UV light to collect the fluorescent
scorpions at night. |
