#Stylonurus

[earlypalaeoart]

'Devonian Crustacea' Scylonurus and Pterygotus from The past and present life of the globe. Being a sketch in outline of the world's life-system by David Page, 1861

https://archive.org/details/pastpresentlifeo00pagerich/page/95/mode/1up

[growlingrat-archive]

Here’s what I drew for the “Draw a pet from another planet” writing prompt from @drawing-prompt-s!

I took inspiration from the stylonurus, then added a cat-like face and some extra details. This might not be the fuzziest pet, but it will be sure to scare away intruders lol.

[palaeopedia]

The Stylonurus (1856)

Phylum : Arthropoda Class : Merostomata Order : Eurypteria Superfamily : Stylonuroidea Family : Stylonuridae Genus : Stylonurus Species : S. powriensis, S. shaffneri

Devonian

1,5 m long (size)

North America (map)

Stylonurids, which lived from the Ordovician to Lower Permian periods, 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.

Stylonurus is distinguishable from other stylonurids by their smooth surface, and the greatly elongated 5th (last) pair of walking legs, which reached as far as the telson, which was long and styliform. The prosoma (head) varied from semiovate to subrectangular.