Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
256 / Paleozoic
Acutiramus
Acutiramus cummingsi
Its long pincers carried slanting blades suited to holding or slicing soft prey.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 422–414 million years ago
- Final stage
- End of the Silurian
- Geographic range
- Estuaries, lagoons and shallow seas · North America
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Acutiramus?
Acutiramus (Acutiramus cummingsi) was an extinct organism known from About 422–414 million years ago, with a range in Estuaries, lagoons and shallow seas · North America.
Life and ecology
Acutiramus was a large eurypterid with a flattened body, swimming paddles and compound eyes, probably hunting in dim estuarine water.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Acutiramus disappear?
Changing waterways and predator communities contributed to the decline of giant eurypterids.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Acutiramus?
Carapaces, eyes and paired claws preserve tooth shape and scale, though total length remains estimated.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS