Eurypterus remipes Sea Scorpion Death Assemblage

Description: While Eurypterids (“Sea Scorpions”) are uncommon fossils worldwide, New York state is one of the few places where conditions for preservation have been ideal. They were large arthropod predators during the Silurian and Devonian, reaching a maximum length of 2 meters. The Eurypterid colonies of New York are distinctly localized, with two being found above and two below the salt beds of what was termed the Salina Series. These colonies are presumed to be breeding pools of brackish to partly open basins. They are the Otisville Basin (Colony O), the Pittsford Pool (Colony P), the Herkimer Pool (Colony P), and the Buffalo Pool (Colony P). These last two are the most famous of them, yielding numerous fantastic specimens. Erypterus remipes was a small example of the Merostomata, with specimens having been found ranging from 8 mm to 280 mm in length. It is presumed to have crawled along the seafloor, using its grasping pincers to seize trilobites and other prey. This fine example is a juvenile, and has the swimming paddles and some walking legs preserved. The segmentation of the meso- and metasoma is well detailed, and the specimen is well-centered on the dolostone matrix. This is a fine example of a death assemblage of the fossil designated the New York Sate Fossil by then Governor Mario Cuomo in 1984. It consist of parts of at least eight individuals, mostly preserved in dorsal aspect. There is a portion of a ventral example seen to the left side next not the specimen that displays the swimming legs. This is a large shale matrix suitable for framing or mounting on a mantelpiece.

Also see single Eurypterus specimens here and here.