The world of car-sized 'centipedes'

The largest arthropod in history

Photo: LGL-TPE, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1

The arthropod in question is called Arthropleura and lived in ancient jungles near the equator between 346 and 290 million years ago, during the late Paleozoic Era.

In the oxygen-rich climate of the time, an individual Arthropleura could reach enormous sizes, measuring 2.6 m in length and weighing over 45 kg.

"The Arthropleura species has been known since the 18th century..., more than 100 years, and we still haven't found a complete head of it," Live Science quoted the first author of the report, Mickaël Lheritier, a paleontologist at the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (France).

"Now, with the complete head, you can see the lower jaw, the eyes and features that might allow us to understand the place of this species in evolutionary history," said Mr. Lheritier.

Giant arthropods have long been a mystery to paleontologists. Arthropleura's body resembled a centipede. However, because it lacked a head, scientists were unable to establish its relationship to modern arthropods, such as centipedes and millipedes.

While the two species look quite similar, their ancestors actually diverged some 440 million years ago, long before Arthropleura appeared. Paleontologists are unsure whether Arthropleura was a member of the millipede or centipede group.

With the discovery of the complete head, the mystery of Anthropleura was solved.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/the-gioi-cua-nhung-con-ret-to-co-o-to-185241010102433287.htm