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TWO PHOTOS ABOVE SHOW EDGE PERSPECTIVE TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THE ROCK "FLOATS" OFF THE WALL AS WELL AS THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL DETAIL AND PRESERVED ANATOMY OF THIS MONSTER EURYPTERID
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MONSTROUS NEARLY 3 FOOT DEVONIAN SEA SCORPION EURYPTERID WITH 3-DIMENSIONAL DETAIL FROM GERMANY - ONE OF THREE KNOWN Western Germany LOWER DEVONIAN (EMSIAN) PERIOD: 407 - 397.5 million years ago Over the many years of collecting, preparing and offering a variety of fossil specimens that surpass what most museums possess, there are some that will always remain fondly in our memories. This specimen most definitely will be one of them! It is an EXTREMELY RARE (one of only three specimens like this are known to exist) giant and complete prehistoric SEA SCORPION or also otherwise known as an EURYPTERID. With most fossil eurypterids varying in length from 4 to 6 inches, this amazing specimen approaches 32 inches in length if it were to be straightened. Scientists know that much larger examples of these creatures existed despite the extreme rarity of fossils of the larger varieties. In rare instances of finding fossils of giant eurypterids, the majority of cases involve finding only body parts or partial fragments of these creatures. Complete specimens of these large prehistoric arthropods are seldom seen even in scientific publications, not to mention museum inventories. Collected several decades ago when it was legal to dig in the deposit (long since closed and protected by the Germany government) and recently prepared in our lab, this is a complete Early Devonian fossil of a giant sea scorpion too rare to be accurately attributed to a specific genus due to the scarcity of known specimens. It is one of only three complete specimens of its kind we know of that exist. One of the three is now in the national museum in Germany and this is the better of the remaining two that are privately owned. Never before have we witnessed a large eurypterid of this dimension and nature being available for public sale and due to the deposit being protected and closed to public collecting long ago, it is certain you will not see one like it for sale ever again. Lacking the necessary anatomy of the giant Pterygotus which reached 2.5 meters, this specimen is likely a monstrous example of another clade as Tetlie writes that most eurypterid clades could have had creatures approaching 100 cm. The lack of claws and long swimming appendages is unusual and not typical for most eurypterids. It is not missing this anatomy in the fossil, but did not possess them originally making this a type of a lesser seen variety. Based on the presence of its segmented, pointed appendages rather than paddle-shaped legs typically seen in swimming varieties, this anatomy would seem to be designed for crawling on the bottom of a brackish marine environment and possibly up onto dry land as is theorized, rather than it be of a type more akin to swimming. The tail lacks a long telson and the entire body is segmented with excellent mineralization of the carapace in its original colors of burnt gold, brown and orange. Most impressive is the the multi-dimensional form of the fossil and anatomy of this massive creature. Much of the body is raised off the rock, especially the most posterior portion of the abdomen and some of the appendages, as well as the head (cephalon). The color is natural and the specimen has only restoration limited to filling in of cracks as it was found in pieces and required repair that is typical for such large fossils of this nature. The pose is slightly distorted with the head bent backwards and one appendage appears to have been folded beneath it when it was originally buried prior to fossilization. Further information would be appreciated on this specimen from qualified academic professionals. Eurypterids are fascinating fossils and represent what many to believe to be the first life-forms that progressed out of water onto dry land. Museums that display eurypterids most commonly possess the typical small varieties that are found still today from rich deposits like those in New York, USA. It is certain that any institution that possessed THIS spectacular specimen would make any and all its visitors beyond impressed should it be put on display or publicized in the media. For such a rare and invaluable example like this to be part of a public display, such an acquisition would immediately elevate the prominence of such a collection, without question. Not only does this fossil represent a scientific keystone in the progression and variety of Earth's life-forms and natural history, IT IS A REMARKABLY IMPRESSIVE FOSSIL TO SEE IN PERSON and would surely be a central specimen in ANY collection. For trilobite or other fossil arthropod collections, this would definitely be one of the central specimens of visitor interest in a public or private forum. This specimen represents one of the most valuable and prized acquisitions a fancier of natural history could ever hope to possess. Many rare fossils are not visually impressive and many visually impressive fossils are not rare. This is one of those prize discoveries that is BOTH! EURYPTERIDS or SEA SCORPIONS were aquatic arthropods that were highly efficient predators predating the most primitive fishes. The largest known arthropods to have ever lived were eurypterids. Eurypterids are believed to have possibly had dual breathing capabilities in order to allow them to live in water and also venture for short periods of time onto dry land. Eurypterids are also scientifically interesting fossils because they are believed to be related to a predatory arthropod found in Cambrian strata dating from demonstrating the first evidence of creatures emerging from water to walk on land. All eurypterids are extinct and their fossil remains are found in deposits ranging from the Ordovician Period to the Permian Period. Eurypterids are crustacean-like creatures that had a chitinous exoskeleton similar to trilobites. Also similar to trilobites, eurypterids are made up of three fundamental regions - a head (CEPHALON or PROSOMA), a body (ABDOMEN or OPISTHOSOMA) and a tail spike (TELSON or TERMINAL METASOMA). The upper body and head are often combined in terminology to be called a CEPHALOTHORAX and the main body called an ABDOMEN. Eurypterids have compound eyes and typically had six pairs of appendages found near the head. The first pair were claws (although some varieties lacked claws), followed by four pairs of walking legs and finally, a pair of swimming appendages (also lacking in some varieties). Some types achieved lengths of 2.5 meters but most were between 10 to 12 cm long. References: - Tetlie, O. Erik, 2007. Distribution and dispersal history of Eurypterida (Chelicerata) - Owen, Richard 1852. "Description of the impressions and footprints of the Protichnites from the Potsdam Sandstone of Canada". Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 8: 214–225.
RARE BEYOND MEASURE WITH THREE-DIMENSIONAL ANATOMY - ONE OF ONLY THREE KNOWN SPECIMENS OF THIS KIND! AVERAGE LENGTH OF EURYPTERIDS IS FROM 4-6", THIS ONE AT NEARLY 32"! - LARGE COMPLETE EXAMPLES LIKE THIS ARE SCIENTIFIC RARITIES TRULY A MUSEUM EXHIBITION PIECE! 39" by 29" overall with rock plate, eurypterid is 31.5" (80 cm) in length if straightened $195,000 EUR001 Actual Item - One Only Comes with a certificate of authenticity / information sheet |
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