Description

Setapedites abundantis gen. et sp. nov.
Early Ordovician (Arenigian)
Upper Fezouata Formation
Zagora, Draa Valley, Morocco

Two excellent 6mm positive on 69mm x 43mm slab.

This is the first known occurrence in Africa and the earliest known occurrence of synziphosurines anywhere. They are better known from the Early Silurian to Early Carboniferous of North America and Europe.

Described for the first time in May 2024, this is perhaps the earliest known occurrence of synziphosurines which are better known from the Early Silurian to Early Carboniferous. A synziphosurine is a member of a suborder of arthropods, Synziphosurina, considered to be stem-group xiphosurans. In other words, based on current understanding, they may not be ancestral to xiphosurans (horseshoe crabs) but they are more closely related to their ancestors than to other groups.

Video is an amazing 3D scan of a similar specimen from the Silurian

A nice summary of the new research can be found here: Surprise Discovery Reveals Earliest Known Ancestor of Scorpions And Spiders

Read the original scientific paper here: Lower Ordovician synziphosurine reveals early euchelicerate diversity and evolution (opens in new tab)