Anthracomartus is an extinct genus of Carboniferous-aged trigonotarbid arachnids. A fossil of the species Anthracomartus hindi (synonym: Cryptomartus hindi) was found to be 23 millimetres (0.91 in) long and 14 millimetres (0.55 in) wide.[2]

Anthracomartus
Temporal range: 314.6 Ma
Westphalian
Anthracomartus trilobitus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Trigonotarbida
Family: Anthracomartidae
Genus: Anthracomartus
Karsch, 1882
Species[1]
  • Anthracomartus bohemica (Frič, 1901)
  • Anthracomartus carcinoides (Frič, 1901)
  • Anthracomartus elegans Frič, 1901
  • Anthracomartus granulatus Frič, 1904
  • Anthracomartus hindi Pocock, 1911
  • Anthracomartus janae (Opluštil, 1986)
  • Anthracomartus kustae Petrunkevitch, 1953
  • Anthracomartus minor Kušta, 1884
  • Anthracomartus nyranensis (Petrunkevitch, 1953)
  • Anthracomartus palatinus Ammon, 1901
  • Anthracomartus preisti Pocock, 1911
  • Anthracomartus radvanicensis (Opluštil, 1985)
  • Anthracomartus triangularis Petrunkevitch, 1913
  • Anthracomartus trilobitus Scudder, 1884
  • Anthracomartus voelkelianus Karsch, 1882

3-D modeling edit

Scientists at Imperial College London created a detailed 3D computer model of A. hindi from fossils.[3][2] 3D imaging revealed A. hindi has a flat body and large front limbs, indicating ambush hunting techniques similar to that of modern crab spiders due to the similarities in their anatomical features.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Anthracomartus". BioLib.
  2. ^ a b Garwood, R.; Dunlop, J. A.; Sutton, M. D. (2009). "High-fidelity X-ray micro-tomography reconstruction of siderite-hosted Carboniferous arachnids". Biology Letters. 5 (6): 841–844. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0464. PMC 2828000. PMID 19656861.
  3. ^ "Scary Ancient 'Spiders' Revealed In 3D Models, With New Imaging Technique". ScienceDaily. August 5, 2009.
  4. ^ Garwood, Rusell; Dunlop, Jason (November 19, 2009). "Morphology and Systematics of Anthracomartidae (ARACHNIDA:TRIGONOTARBIDA)". Palaeontology. 54 (1): 145–161. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.01000.x.