The Reinaut Formation in the south of the continent called Guralta is one of, if not the most extensive fossil site from the late Bobossic. Dated to have been formed between 125 and 122 million Eryobian years ago, the Reinaut Formation offers a glimpse of what life was like in the Kikilian, the latest stage of the Bobossic right before the devastating mass extinction dubbed “The World Scarring” happened.
Back when it was formed, the Reinaut Formation was likely a subtropical or temperate open woodland subject to seasonal rains. The fossils discovered in the Reinaut Formation so far, have mostly been megafaunal animals which tended to fossilise better than smaller animals in the conditions that were present in Reinaut 122 million years ago.
Arachnopods seem to be rather unrepresented in Reinaut. Whether this is due to conditions not being favourable for their in general more fragile bones to preserve or due to them just not being very diverse in Reinaut, we cannot tell yet. Of the only three properly described Arachnopods of Reinaut, Scutogaleus choerodon is the best studied. A large number of fragmentary fossils belonging to Scutogaleus has allowed us to paint a quite clear picture of what this animal likely looked like. It would’ve been roughly three meters long from head to tail and was a stout bodied, short legged animal. It had a row of scutes running along its back and its tail was tipped with small defensive spikes.
Its ear, jaw and hip anatomy suggest it may have been a close relative of the common ancestor of modern Euarachnopods. Its jaws were capable of opening up to 80 degrees wide, which might have been used for intimidating rivals and predators, as well as perhaps aiding in capturing food. What exactly Scutogaleus would’ve eaten is somewhat unclear, but it’s generally believe it was an omnivore like a bear or hog. Likely mostly eating plant matter, but definitely including meat whenever an opportunity provided itself.
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