Merostomata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Merostomata Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reconstruction of Eurypterus (Eurypterida) | |
 | |
| Five views of Limulus polyphemus (Xiphosura) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Merostomata Woodward, 1866[1] |
| Orders | |
Merostomata is a class of chelicerate arthropods that contains the extinct Eurypterida (sea scorpions) and the extant Xiphosura (horseshoe crabs). The term was originally used by James Dwight Dana to refer to Xiphosura only, but was emended by Henry Woodward to cover both groups.
