The genus Jaekelopterus accommodates two species from the Early Devonian; fossils of J. rhenaniae have been initially found within the Rhineland of Western Germany whereas these of J. howellii have been initially found in Wyoming, USA. Jaekelopterus rhenaniae will not be solely the most important eurypterid, it’s the largest recognized arthropod…EVER! Utilizing a chelicera (claw) as a metric, J. rhenaniae was estimated as reaching 2.3-2.6 meters in size! Jaekelopterus howellii was smaller at round 80 centimeters. Jaekelopterus was believed to be an energetic, visible predator in shallow brackish to freshwater habitats, similar to estuaries and alongside the mouths of enormous rivers. This 12 months CollectA launched is to Jaekelopterus of their Prehistoric World assortment. To my information that is the primary determine of this genus, at the very least in relation to broadly commercially-available, well-known producers within the trade (i.e., I’m not together with 3D prints, sport items, private commissions, and so forth.). CollectA particularly marketed their determine as J. rhenaniae, and based mostly on claw morphology that seems to be correct.
Excluding appendages, the CollectA Jaekelopterus has a physique size of 12.5 cm, which involves a scale of 1:18.4-1:20.8 based mostly on the vary above.
By all measures I may readily provide you with, the sculpt is fairly correct, all the things from the form of the pretelson (terminal belly appendage), to the paired ocelli (easy eyes), to the dentation of the claws. The dorsal floor of the primary physique, except for the prosoma and pretelson, has a cross-hatch like texture to it, as do the eyes.
The bottom shade is an orange-brown, darker dorsally than ventrally, with infuscations alongside joints and on the terminus of some appendages. There are some scattered inexperienced patches on the dorsum; I assume these are supposed to characterize patches of an alga rising on the animal’s exoskeleton, akin to algal progress seen on extant animals similar to sea turtles.
One factor of particular observe, which created fairly the excitement on the Dino Toy Discussion board, was the presence of a pteraspid fish completely affixed throughout the animal’s left claw. Fossils from Utah of the poraspid fish Lechriaspis patula have been discovered with scar marks suggesting predation by J. howellii; this will likely have been the affect for depictions of Jaekelopterus with fish prey, together with at this time’s determine. The fish is blue and silver, with some paint carrying over from the claw (in all probability onerous to keep away from at this measurement).
I’m an arthropod specialist, so I’m just a little biased right here, however I believe it goes with out saying that CollectA’s Jaekelopterus comes extremely advisable to collectors of fascinating taxa. CollectA has been producing high-quality prehistoric invertebrates since 2020 (okay, one minor hiccup being the 2023 Anomalocaris), and this Jaekelopterus continues the pattern.
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