This　paper　describes　a　new　stylonurine　eurypterid:　Qujingopterus　spineus　gen.　et　sp.　nov.,　from　the　Early　Devonian　(late　Lochkovian　to　early　Pragian)　Xitun　formation　of　Yunnan　Province,　South　China.　This　discovery　represents　one　of　the　earliest　stylonurine　records　from　Gondwana　and　further　supports　the　global　distribution　of　stylonurines.　Considering　the　probable　region　of　origin　of　the　clade　and　and　their　lack　of　anatomical　structures　adapted　for　swimming,　we　propose　that　stylonurines　migrated　to　Gondwana　as　the　Rheic　Ocean　dwindled　while　Gondwana　rapidly　approached　Laurussia.　An　additional　specimen　from　this　locality　is　described,　and　can　be　assigned　to　the　eurypterine　family　Pterygotidae.　Based　on　the　environmental　analysis,　it　can　be　inferred　that　the　eurypterids　from　South　China　underwent　adaptations　to　cope　with　decreasing　salinity　levels.　This　discovery　provides　valuable　insights　into　the　timing　and　mechanisms　underlying　eurypterid　invasion　into　freshwater　ecosystems.　©　2024　The　Authors