why did I make this right after I finished titanicthys huh (also sorry for close posts ;w;)
Naming
Its name is Icthyopteron elegans "elegant fish-wing" and it is the only species (and genera) in its genus and family to an extent, Icthyopterida (name derived from type species)
Description
The holotype was approximately 90 centimetres long. The head was rectangular and broad, and the body was streamlined and flattened. The chelicera was small while the walking legs were long and presumed to be highly articulate, allowing it to swim without the drag of its long legs. The walking legs had spines and the paddle legs had small flat spines on the second and third segments.
Paleobiology
Judging from trackways this pterygotoid primarily hunted fish and small trilobites using its 2 first pairs of limbs. Unlike other pterygotoids, its chelicera was small and was used to rip food into chunks while the second pair was larger and had deadly barbs on it which was used to subdue prey.
It was speculated to be a primarily pelagic eurypterine, judging from the large paddles and telson which were both heavily flattened. Claw marks were found on multiple species of agnathans. It is speculated that Icthyopteron was highly specialized, hunting on agnathans, and those only.
Paleoecology
It lived alongside many species of placoderms and jawed fish, like Gogonasus, Materpiscis, and other bony and placoderm fish which it had to compete with for food.
Discovery
It was found from Devonian rocks in the Gogo Formation from West Australia during the Late Devonian period.
References
Long, John A. (2021) "Discovery of new Pterygotoid from Gogo"
Kosemen, C.M (2021) "Study of Pelagic Eurypterids"
