Terropterus

Terropterus is a genus of eurypterid, an extinct group of aquatic arthropods. The type and only species of Terropterus, T. xiushanensis, is known from deposits of Early Silurian age in China.

Terropterus was the earliest known and largest lanarkopterid eurypterid. Fossil specimens referred to T. xiushanensis are estimated to have reached up to 40 centimeters (15.7 in) in length, but other fossils, either representing older T. xiushanensis or a second species of Terropterus, demonstrate that members of the genus could reach upwards of at least 100 centimeters (3.3 ft) in length. Terropterus is the only lanarkopterid known from the ancient southern continent of Gondwana, with the other lanarkopterid, Lanarkopterus, only being known from what was once the northern continent of Laurussia. The discovery of Terropterus significantly expanded the known geographical and temporal ranges of the group.