Carcinosomatidae is a family of eurypterids, an extinct group of aquatic arthropods. They were members of the superfamily Carcinosomatoidea, also named after Carcinosoma. Fossils of carcinosomatids have been found in North America, Europe and Asia, the family possibly having achieved a worldwide distribution, and range in age from the Late Ordovician to the Early Devonian. They were among the most marine eurypterids, known almost entirely from marine environments.
Carapaces of Rhinocarcinosoma, as figured by John Mason Clarke and Rudolf Ruedemann in 1912
Mixopterids, such as Mixopterus (pictured), were the closest relatives of the carcinosomatids
Model of a Eusarcana on a Silurian seafloor
Carcinosoma is a genus of eurypterid, an extinct group of aquatic arthropods. Fossils of Carcinosoma are restricted to deposits of late Silurian age. Classified as part of the family Carcinosomatidae, which the genus lends its name to, Carcinosoma contains seven species from North America and Great Britain.
Carcinosoma
Fossil of C. newlini (lacking the posteriormost parts of the telson)