Stylonuridae is a family of , an extinct group of chelicerate commonly known as "sea scorpions". The family is one of two families contained in the superfamily Stylonuroidea (along with Parastylonuridae), which in turn is one of four superfamilies classified as part of the suborder Stylonurina.
Stylonuridae, which lived from Early Silurian to the Late Devonian, were small to very large forms with scales developing into tubercules and knobs. The prosoma (head) exhibited variable shape, with arcuate compound eyes located subcentrally, or anteriorly. Their abdomens were slender. Their walking legs were long and powerful, sometimes characterized by spines. Most genera did not have swimming legs.[ 1955. Merostomata. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part P Arthropoda 2, Chelicerata, P: 36.]
Description
Stylonurids are stylonuroids with undifferentiated opisthosoma with appendages II-IV being spiniferous akin to the genus
Ctenopterus, whilst appendages V-VI are non-spiniferous akin to the genus
Pagea. The fixed spines on appendages II-IV could have been used as dragnets to rake through the sediment, indiscriminately entangling anything within their sweeping arc. This type of sweep-feeding also occurs in the Hibbertopteroidea, though the adaptations of the
Hibbertopteridae suggests they were more selective feeders.
Systematics and genera
The Stylonuridae is classified within the superfamily
Stylonuroidea within the
Stylonurina. It contains five genera in total and one recognised subfamily; the Laurieipterinae containing genera
Laurieipterus and
Ctenopterus. "Laurieipterines" are diagnosed as stylonurids with broad metastoma and an epistoma with a rostral field and were restricted to the
Early Silurian.
Family Stylonuridae Diener, 1924
