2004/07/01 by O. Erik Tetlie, Simon J. Braddy, Piers D. Butler +1 · 27 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · #Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy #Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies #Amphibian and Reptile Biology #Devonian #Carapace #Paleontology #Biology #Zoology #Anatomy #Crustacean
paper · doi:10.1111/j.0031-0239.2004.00390.x
published in Palaeontology 47(4), 801-809 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 2004/07/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15
A new eurypterid, Rhenopterus waterstoni sp. nov., is described from the Gogo Formation (Frasnian, Upper Devonian) of Western Australia. This species is distinguished from related forms by the tuberculation of the anteriormost tergite and crenulated posterior margins of the carapace and opisthosomal segments. It is the only eurypterid specimen known from the Gogo Formation, the most complete eurypterid from Australia, and also the youngest representative of Rhenopterus in the fossil record. Structures retrieved from between the prosomal‐opisthosomal juncture comprise polygonal tubes 30–40 μm in diameter, which are interpreted as sarcomeral sheaths of muscular tissue. Rhenopterus is reviewed: R. latus Størmer, 1936 is synonymized with R. diensti Størmer, 1936 as it is here recognized as a female sexual dimorph; R. maccarthyi (Kjellesvig‐Waering, 1934) is an orthocone nautiloid.