Arthropleuridea
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2008-06-25T21:48:11Z
CommonsDelinker
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Removing "Arthropleura_model_FMNH.jpg", it has been deleted from Commons by [[commons:User:MichaelMaggs|MichaelMaggs]] because: per [[w:commons:Commons:Deletion_requests/Image:Arthropleura_model_FMNH.jpg]].
{{Taxobox
| name = Arthropleuridea
| fossil_range = [[Silurian]] to [[Permian]]
| image =
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| subphylum = [[Chelicerata]]
| classis = '''Arthropleuridea'''
| classis_authority =
| subdivision_ranks = Orders
| subdivision =
[[Arthropleurida]]<br>
[[Eoarthropleurida]]<br>
[[Microdecemplicida]]<br>
}}
'''Arthropleuridea''' was a class of [[arthropod]]s that flourished during the [[Carboniferous]] period. Members are defined by diplosomy, paranotal tergal lobes separated from the axis by a suture, and by [[Sclerosis|sclerotized]] plates buttressing the leg insertions. Despite their unique features, recent [[Phylogenetics|phylogenetic]] research suggests that Arthropleuridea may be included among [[millipede]]s.<ref name="palaeos">{{cite web | url = http://www.palaeos.com/Invertebrates/Arthropods/Arthropleurida/Arthropleurida.htm | title = Class? and Order Arthropleurida | work = Palaeos | accessdate = 2006-04-12}}</ref> The class contains three recognized orders, each with a single genus.<ref name="umd">{{cite web | url = http://www.life.umd.edu/entm/shultzlab/vtab/arthropleuridea.htm | title = Arthropleuridea | accessdate = 2006-04-12}}</ref>Arthropleurids had about 30 pairs of legs, whose tracks have been found in the Joggins deposit in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Arthropleuridea is most famous for order [[Arthropleurida]]. With the genus ''[[Arthropleura]]'' over 2 meters in length, Arthropleurids are among the largest [[arthropod]]s ever to have lived. The lack of large terrestrial vertebrate predators and the highly [[oxygen]]ic atmosphere at that time probably enabled them to grow so large. Arthropleurids lived in the moist [[coal]] swamps that were common at the time and may have [[burrow]]ed in the undergrowth. They were either [[herbivore]]s or [[detritivore]]s. Besides their size, their most distinguishing features were their legs with eight segments (as many as 30 pairs) and extremely tough [[exoskeleton]]s. There is no evidence of [[spiracle]]s, so the animals must have used [[lung]]s or [[gill]]s for [[Aquatic respiration|respiration]].<ref name="palaeos"/> Arthropleurids became [[extinction|extinct]] as the climate became drier and the coal swamps dried out.<ref name="palaeos"/>
[[trace fossil|Tracks]] from ''Arthropleura'' up to 50cm wide have been found at [[Joggins, Nova Scotia]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/tracefossils/english/sections/whodunnit/traces/diplichnites.html | title = The Excitement of Discovery | work = Virtual Museum of Canada | accessdate = 2006-04-17}}</ref>
Most Arthropleuridea are thought to have been terrestrial, although, without any known respiratory structure, terrestriality is assumed only by analogy to modern arthropods.<ref>{{cite book | last = Fortey | first = Richard | coauthors = R. H. Thomas | title = Arthropod Relationships | origdate = 1998-01-01 | publisher = Springer | id = ISBN 0-412-75420-7}}</ref> Early forms, however, including order [[Eoarthropleurida]], appear to have been [[aquatic animal|aquatic]]. For this reason, some question Arthropleuridea's inclusion among millipedes because no modern aquatic [[Myriapoda|myriapods]] are known.<ref name="palaeos"/> Eoarthropleurida has been found from the Upper Silurian through the Upper [[Devonian]] of [[Europe]] and [[North America]].
Order [[Microdecemplicida]] was smaller in comparison to the other Arthropleuridea, with genus ''Microdecemplex'' just a few millimeters long. It is known from the Middle through Upper Devonian of [[New York]] state.<ref name="umd"/>
==References==
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[[Category:Prehistoric arthropods]]
[[pl:Arthropleuridea]]