415-million-year-old fossils confirm Praearcturus gigas as the largest scorpion ever discovered
Front-window bakery material. Catches the eye, delivers the goods.
Summary
New research has confirmed that Praearcturus gigas, known from fossils for over a century, is the world's largest scorpion species. Living 415 million years ago during the Early Devonian Period, this prehistoric creature had 16-centimetre-long pincers and an estimated body length of over a metre, making it one of the first large predators to stalk land. The fossils were found in England and Wales, and the study resolves a long-standing controversy about its classification.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledWith 16-centimetre-long pincers and an estimated body length of over a metre, Praearcturus gigas would have towered over the floodplains 415 million years ago.
Praearcturus gigas was among the first large predators to ever stalk the land, measuring over a metre in length.
New research examining a range of fossils has now confirmed its status as one of the largest prehistoric scorpions.
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