List of eurypterid genera

List of eurypterid genera
This list of eurypterid genera is a comprehensive listing of all genera that have ever been included in the order Eurypterida, excluding purely vernacular terms. The list includes all commonly accepted genera, but also genera that are now considered invalid, doubtful (nomen dubium), or were not formally published (nomen nudum), as well as junior synonyms of more established names and genera that are no longer considered eurypterids. The list currently includes 115 names out of which 74 are considered valid eurypterid genera.
There are approximately 250 species of eurypterids recognized as valid.
Naming conventions and terminology
There is no "official" or "canonical" list of eurypterid genera. The closest thing is found contained in the regularly updated Summary list of fossil spiders and their relatives in the World Spider Catalog. The vast majority of the content of the list below, including the valid genera, preoccupied names, junior synonyms, taxonomical classifications and sites of discovery, is based upon the 2018 edition of the Summary list. Content not based on the list, such as genera described after its publication, is noted through inline citations.
Naming conventions and terminology follow the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Technical terms used include:
Junior synonym: A name which describes the same taxon as a previously published name. If two or more genera are formally designated and the type specimens are later assigned to the same genus, the first to be published (in chronological order) is the senior synonym, and all other instances are junior synonyms. Senior synonyms are generally used, except by special decision of the ICZN, but junior synonyms cannot be used again, even if deprecated. Junior synonymy is often subjective, unless the genera described were both based on the same type specimen.
Nomen nudum (Latin for "naked name"): A name that has appeared in print but has not yet been formally published by the standards of the ICZN. Nomina nuda (the plural form) are invalid, and are therefore not italicized as a proper generic name would be. If the name is later formally published, that name is no longer a nomen nudum and will be italicized on this list. Often, the formally published name will differ from any nomina nuda that describe the same specimen.
Nomen manuscriptum (Latin for "manuscript name"): A name that appears in manuscript of a formal, but not-peer-reviewed, publication that has no scientific backing. A nomen manuscriptum is equivalent to a nomen nudum for everything except the method of publication, and description.
Nomen oblitum (Latin for "forgotten name"): A name that has not been used in the scientific community for more than fifty years after its original proposal.
Preoccupied name: A name that is formally published, but which has already been used for another taxon. This second use is invalid (as are all subsequent uses) and the name must be replaced. As preoccupied names are not valid generic names, they will also go unitalicized on this list.
Nomen dubium (Latin for "dubious name"): A name describing a fossil with no unique diagnostic features.
Eurypterid genera
Eurypterid ichnogenera
See also
Timeline of eurypterid research
List of xiphosuran genera
List of trilobite genera
List of ammonite genera
List of prehistoric malacostracans
References
General
Dunlop, J. A., Penney, D. & Jekel, D. 2018. A summary list of fossil spiders and their relatives. In World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern.
Citations
Genera
Lists of prehistoric animal genera (alphabetic)