Euchelicerate linking horseshoe crabs and eurypterids

[oilshale]

PAUL A. SELDEN, JAMES C. LAMSDELL & LIU QI: An unusual euchelicerate linking horseshoe crabs and eurypterids, from the Lower Devonian (Lochkovian) of Yunnan, China. June 2015 · Zoologica Scripta 06/2015; 44(6). DOI:10.1111/zsc.12124

"Houia yueya n. gen. exhibits a unique combination of xiphosuran and eurypterid characteristics. The dorsal carapace and ventral doublure are typical of xiphosurids, and lack of opisthosomal pleura and possession of a large, ventral, metastomal plate are characteristics of the Dekatriata (Lamsdell 2013a): arachnids, eurypterids and chasmataspidids. The

large size of the metastoma of Houia, together with its stratigraphic age, indicates that the genus likely branched off the main euchelicerate lineage prior to the divergence

of the three constituent dekatriatan clades."

[Fossildude19]

Thanks for the link, Thomas!

Regards,