Megalograptus

Megalograptus was a small eurypterid from the Ordovician. These sea scorpions are famous for being among the first creatures to come onto dry land.

Creature attributes.

Physical appearance and biology.

Megalograptus belonged to a group of marine arthropods called eurypterids. These animals were marine scorpions which lacked the stinger on the tip of their tail and were replaced with a fluke.

It had long arms with lots of spines ranging in size running down the length of them.

Behaviour and traits.

When attacking other animals, Megalogra used its sharp pincers and spiny arms to shear and tear apart its victims. Using its mandibles, it would force the meat into its mouth. It mainly hunted arthropods such as trilobites, early fish and even other sea scorpions.

One feature of Megalograptus and other sea scorpions that made them unique was that they were the first anima to walk onto land. Although they typically ventured onto land to feed on any the sea threw up, groups of Megalograptus would come onto the shore to reproduce on masse.

Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

Dangerous Sea.

When two Ophthalmosaurus pups were in the coral caves exploring their surroundings, several numbers of Megalograptus were swimming upon the coral floors and the Ophthalmosaurus pups had to be careful because the pincers of Megalograptus could easily wound the pups. The Megalograptus appeared to eat mostly trilobites in the seas, but it turns out that Megalograptus are prey themselves. During their time, Megalograptus were prey to Cameroceras, but in the episode, a Megalograptus's prey would have been the Nothosaurs. Nothosaurs would come every morning to feed on Megalograptus but the Nothosaurs also fed on the trilobites.