Eramoscorpius brucensis; a fossil scorpion from Ontario, Canada
Dimensions:Fossil: 11.5 (L) x 9 (W) cm
Taxonomy
- Attributes
- Objects
- Taxonomy
- Kingdom:
Animalia
- Phylum:
Arthropoda
- Subphylum:
Chelicerata
- Class:
Arachnida
- Order:
Scorpiones
- Genus:
Eramoscorpius
- SpecificEpithet:
brucensis
Object number: ROMIP49276-40859
DescriptionRocks of the Eramosa Member are extensively quarried on Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula for the building and decorative stone industries. Deposited originally as fine, organic-rich mud behind and between protective reef masses, the Eramosa dolostones contain layers with exceptional fossil preservation. Among the important new fossils under current study are at least two kinds of aquatic scorpions—the oldest complete scorpions known. Although they look much like modern scorpions, these creatures lived in the sea. Living scorpions today are all terrestrial.
