T129 Eat, Prey, Love, and Burrow: Tracing Animal Behavior through Time (Posters)

Monday, 2 November 2015
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall

PTEROGOTID EURYPTERIDS: FEARSOME PREDATORS OR BLIND, LISTLESS, ALGAE-EATING BLIMPS?

Paper number: T129-21
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Pterogotid eurypterids have long been characterized as predators but recently some research has portrayed them as slow- moving, weak and nearly blind scavengers or herbivores ( Laub et al, 2010 and Anderson et al, 2014.) Both studies used very limited samples and primarily focused only on the eyes and the raptoral claws. This study examined over sixty fossils paying attention to features including the coxal morphology, eye position and new evidence of torn and pierced prey items. From our preliminary evidence, we find some signs compatible with a sedentary lifestyle and more to indicate an energetic predator. It is important to seek the truth; whatever it may be, and we will provide evidence: morphologic and circumstantial, that we hope will help clarify the on-going debate on Pterogotid life style.