Pterygotus v Eryops

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Who wins?
Pterygotus	3 (21.4%)
Eryops	11 (78.6%)
Total Votes: 14

Pterygotus v Eryops
Tweet Topic Started: Mar 23 2012, 09:28 PM (1,291 Views)
Taipan	Mar 23 2012, 09:28 PM Post #1
Administrator Posts: 11,849 Group: Admins Member #1 Joined: Feb 25, 2011	Pterygotus anglicus Pterygotus (meaning wing-animal or finned one) is the second-largest known eurypterid, or sea scorpion and one of the largest arthropods of all time. Pterygotid eurypterids, which lived from the Early Silurian to Devonian periods, were characterized by small to large exoskeletons with semilunar scales. The telson (tail) was expanded, or flatter than it was tall. Pterygotids also had chelicerae (claws in front of the mouth) that were large and long, with strong, well developed teeth on the claws. Their walking legs were small and slender, without spines.Pterygotus is distinguishable from other Pterygotids by the curved distal margin of the chelae. The prosoma (head) is subtrapezoidal (a trapezoid with rounded corners), with compound eyes located near the edge of the front corners. The telson has a pronounced dorsal carina (or keel) running down its center, terminating in a short spine. Pterygotus could reach a length of 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in), had a pair of large compound eyes, as well as another pair of smaller eyes in the center of its head. It had 4 pairs of walking legs, a fifth pair modified into swimming paddles, and a pair of large chelae (pincers) for subduing prey. Eryops megacephalus Eryops (pronounced /ˈɛəri.ɒps/) meaning "drawn-out face" because most of its skull was in front of its eyes (Greek eryein = drawn-out + ops = face) is a genus of extinct, semi-aquatic amphibian found primarily in the Lower Permian-aged Admiral Formation (about 295 million years ago) of Archer County, Texas, but fossils are also found in New Mexico and parts of the eastern United States. Eryops averaged a little over 1.5-2.0 meters (5-6 ft) long, making it one of the largest land animals of its time. It weighed about 90 kilograms (200 lb). It probably had few predators though it would have likely been an easy target for a predator like Dimetrodon which was larger and was likely the apex predator at the time. Several complete skeletons of Eryops have been found in the Lower Permian, but skull plates and teeth are the most common fossils. Although it had no direct descendants, it is the best-known Permian amphibian and a remarkable example of natural engineering. Eryops is an example of an animal that made successful adaptations in the movement from a water environment to a terrestrial one. It retained, and refined, most of the traits found in its fish ancestors. Sturdy limbs supported and transported its body while out of water. A thicker, stronger backbone prevented its body from sagging under its own weight. Also, by utilizing vestigial fish jaw bones, a rudimentary ear was developed, allowing Eryops to hear airborne sound. The skull of Eryops is proportionately large, being broad and flat and reaching lengths of 60 centimeters (2 ft). The skull resembled that of a salamander. It had an enormous mouth with many sharp teeth in strong jaws. Its teeth had enamel with a folded pattern, hence its classification with the labyrinthodonts ("maze toothed"). Within the wide, gaping jaw, the fang-like palatal teeth, when coupled with the gape, suggest an inertial feeding habit. This is when the amphibian would grasp its prey and, lacking any chewing mechanism, toss its head up and backwards, throwing the prey farther back into its mouth. Such feeding is seen today in the crocodile and alligator. It is taken that Eryops was not very active, thus a predatory lifestyle, while possible, was probably not the norm. It is more likely that it fed on fish either in the water or on those that became stranded at the margins of lakes and swamps. A large supply of terrestrial invertebrates were also abundant at the time, and this may have provided a fairly adequate food supply in itself. _____________________________________________________________ Archosauromorph Mar 22 2012, 09:32 PM Ok. Maybe, pterygotus vs eryops?



Ozark Prowler	Mar 24 2012, 04:02 AM Post #2
Unicellular Organism Posts: 28 Group: Members Member #249 Joined: Mar 23, 2012	Pterygotus may have the size advantage, but as far as that image goes, I don't see those pinching claws doing much to Eryops. The large amphibian's jaws should be able to take out the sea scorpion with out too much trouble.



Temnospondyl	Mar 25 2012, 06:56 PM Post #3
Stegocephalia specialist. Posts: 1,590 Group: Members Member #244 Joined: Mar 18, 2012	Thanks, Taipan! I think, that an armored sea scorpion can easily damage a thin slin of Eryops. However, eryops has strong jaws to crush the aurmor. It won't be easy. Edited by Temnospondyl, Mar 25 2012, 06:56 PM.



Carcharadon	Nov 4 2012, 03:05 AM Post #4
*Shark Toothed Reptile* Posts: 4,751 Group: Members Member #419 Joined: Jul 1, 2012	Eryops. It has a much deadlier bite that can easily kill the arthropod



Fishfreak	Nov 4 2012, 01:21 PM Post #5
Friend of the fish Posts: 3,216 Group: Members Member #223 Joined: Mar 4, 2012	eryops wins imo. deadlier bite, more agile and more robust (thouugh not armoured).



SpinoInWonderland	Nov 4 2012, 02:45 PM Post #6
The madness has come back... Posts: 6,865 Group: Members Member #373 Joined: Jun 10, 2012	eryops wins this...



jj5893	Nov 16 2012, 06:50 PM Post #7
Heterotrophic Organism Posts: 455 Group: Members Member #498 Joined: Aug 6, 2012	Pterygotus would rip its foe apart.



vegetarian	Jul 5 2014, 06:12 PM Post #8
Herbivore Posts: 510 Group: Members Member #2,137 Joined: Feb 1, 2014	Eryops wins



Catboy	Jul 6 2014, 11:26 PM Post #9
~_~ Posts: 9,267 Group: Members Member #877 Joined: Dec 2, 2012	The claws on the Pterygotus are tiny and would probably have little use on Eryops, I would back the Eryops here because of it's deadlier weaponry



Jinfengopteryx	Jul 7 2014, 04:52 AM Post #10
Apex Predator Posts: 9,958 Group: Members Member #363 Joined: Jun 8, 2012	ACTIVATING BLAZE MODUS. I believe this situation could be even worse for Pterygotus than we suggested because 2.3 m appears like an overestimate to me. http://171.66.127.192/content/6/2/265.full.pdf This suggests a length closer to 1.5 m, roughly 65% of the OP length. I would take this, unless I see a citation for 2.3 m, even Wikipedia now changed it to 1.6 m. Since a 1 m long specimen is already described as "large" ( http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00683.x/full ), it looks like my notion is correct. Eryops wins, hands down.



Ornitholestes	Jul 7 2014, 05:33 AM Post #11
Autotrophic Organism Posts: 142 Group: Members Member #2,391 Joined: Apr 16, 2014	Eryops eats the scorpion for breakfast.



Draconis Rex Horribilis	Jul 7 2014, 07:04 AM Post #12
Carnivore Posts: 2,879 Group: Members Member #2,153 Joined: Feb 5, 2014	Eryops whould butcher the sea scorpion.



The Observer	Jul 7 2014, 07:08 AM Post #13
Dimension of mind Posts: 2,371 Group: Members Member #1,721 Joined: Sep 28, 2013	I think the scorpion would put up a good fight, but the jaws Eryops has is just too potent. Edited by The Observer, Jul 7 2014, 07:09 AM.



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