Description
Synziphosurine
Early Ordovician (Arenigian)
Upper Fezouata Formation
Zagora, Draa Valley
Morocco
Fossil synziphosurine arthropod from the Upper Fezouata Formation near Zagora in the Draa Valley, Morocco. This specimen dates to the Early Ordovician Period Arenigian stage, when diverse marine ecosystems flourished across the ancient seafloor.
Synziphosurines are extinct chelicerate arthropods closely related to horseshoe crabs and other early members of the chelicerate lineage. They possessed a broad protective exoskeleton and segmented body, living on or just above the seafloor where they likely fed on small invertebrates and organic material.
35mm arthropod on 55mm slab.
