cheliceror

Cheliceror is a genus of extinct chelicerate arthropods known from fossil remains. It belongs to Chelicerata, a diverse group that includes spiders, scorpions, eurypterids, and horseshoe crabs. The fossils are derived from early Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and represent some of the early members of the chelicerate lineage.

Morphology and anatomy: Cheliceror individuals show the characteristic chelicerate body plan, with a two-part prosoma (cephalothorax) and opisthosoma, a pair of chelicerae, paired pedipalps, and a series of walking legs. They lack antennae, a hallmark of chelicerates. The exoskeleton is typically preserved as impressions or mineralized remnants in the fossil record. Some specimens reveal dorsal segmentation and spines. Eye arrangements, when preserved, vary and are used in taxonomic distinctions.

Ecology and lifestyle: Based on limb morphology and the surrounding sedimentary context, Cheliceror were likely predators or scavengers inhabiting shallow marine or nearshore environments. They probably fed on small invertebrates and detritus, using their cheliceral mouthparts to grasp or macerate prey.

Taxonomy and phylogeny: The precise phylogenetic position of Cheliceror within Chelicerata remains a matter of study. Most analyses place it as an early or stem chelicerate outside the crown group that includes modern spiders and scorpions, though some data have suggested affiliations with other early chelicerate lineages.

Etymology: The name Cheliceror combines a reference to chelicerates with a Latin suffix used in taxonomy, reflecting its supposed chelicerate affinity.

Fossil record and distribution: Fossils have been recovered from marine sedimentary deposits in multiple regions, indicating a broad but limited geographic distribution during the early Paleozoic. Current material comprises a relatively small number of specimens, which continue to inform discussions on early chelicerate evolution.