Attenborolimulus

Attenborolimulus is an extinct genus of horseshoe crab with one known species: Attenborolimulus superspinosus. This genus is known from the Petropavlovka Formation in Russia, dating to the Olenekian age (early Triassic).^[1]

Attenborolimulus Temporal range: Olenekian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Holotype
Reconstruction
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Order:	Xiphosura
Family:	†Austrolimulidae
Genus:	†Attenborolimulus Bicknell & Shcherbakov, 2021
Species:	†A. superspinosus
Binomial name
†Attenborolimulus superspinosus Bicknell & Shcherbakov, 2021

Etymology

The genus is named after David Attenborough for his work in conservation and science communication, whose name was combined with "Limulus", the most well documented living genus of horseshoe crab. The specific epithet "superspinosus" reflects the species' hypertrophied genal spines.^[2]

Palaeoecology

Attenborolimulus inhabited brackish to freshwater environments.^[2]

While the beds of the Petropavlovka Formation are mostly red in colour, Attenborolimulus specimens were instead discovered within a one metre thick lens of grey siltstone to sandstone. This sediment likely accumulated within an ephemeral pond during a flood.^[2]

• 
  Paratype
• 
  Reconstruction

See also

• List of things named after David Attenborough and his works