Jaekelopterus

ancient arthropods · ocean predators · extinct creatures · Silurian-Devonian

Scorpion-like predator. Jaekelopterus was a eurypterid, an extinct group of aquatic arthropods that looked like giant scorpions but lived in water instead of on land. These creatures were some of the most fearsome predators of their ancient seas.

Ancient time traveler. Jaekelopterus lived during the Middle Silurian to Early Devonian periods, which was over 400 million years ago. It roamed the oceans before dinosaurs even existed.

Found in three places. Scientists have discovered three different species of Jaekelopterus in different parts of the ancient world. One came from the Rhineland in Germany, one from Wyoming in the United States, and one from Maryland, showing that these creatures lived across different oceans.

Fresh and brackish water homes. Unlike many aquatic creatures, Jaekelopterus didn't just live in salty oceans. Some species lived in brackish water (a mix of salt and fresh water) and even fresh water rivers and estuaries where rivers meet the ocean.

Named after a scientist. The name Jaekelopterus comes from Otto Jaekel, a German paleontologist who discovered and described the first species, combined with the Greek word for 'wing' because of the creature's wing-like swimming appendages.