Palaeophonus


Palaeophonus is the oldest known genus of scorpions.

Fossil records

This genus is known in the fossil record from the Silurian to the Carboniferous. Fossils have been found in Europe, the United States, and Canada.

Description

Palaeophonus was virtually identical to modern scorpions. It grew to a lengths of. These animals did not have eyes and therefore they were blind.
Until a few decades ago, Palaeophonus, similarly to many other scorpions of the Silurian, was thought to be one of the earliest animals to have conquered the land. In fact, a closer examination of the fossils has determined that these animals possess well-developed gills, very similar to those of contemporary eurypterids.

Species

Species within this genus include: