Global InformationWiedopterus information
| Wiedopterus Temporal range: Emsian,
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| Illustration of PWL2013/5224-LS, the type specimen of W. noctua | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia
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| Phylum: | Arthropoda
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| Subphylum: | Chelicerata
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| Order: | †Eurypterida
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| Suborder: | †Eurypterina
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| Family: | †incertae sedis
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| Genus: | †Wiedopterus Poschmann, 2015
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| Type species | |
| †Wiedopterus noctua Poschmann, 2015
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Wiedopterus is a genus of eurypterid, an extinct group of aquatic arthropods. The type and only species of Wiedopterus, W. noctua, is known from deposits of Early Devonian age in Germany. The generic name derives from the Wied river, which runs near the site of the initial discovery, and the species name, noctua, derives from Latin noctua (owl) which refers to the superficial resemblance of the carapace (head plate) to an owl.
A small eurypterid, the type and only known specimen of Wiedopterus does not preserve the appendages or the underside of the body, making certain classification of the genus impossible. As such, it is formally classified as Eurypterina incertae sedis (indicating uncertain placement within the Eurypterina suborder of eurypterids). Though not yet formally classified as such, Wiedopterus was suggested to probably belong to the Adelophthalmidae family on account of various features, including its general body outline, the position of its eyes, the first segment after its head being reduced in size as well as there being longitudinal ridges on the posterior segments of its body.