Scientists discovered fossils of gigantic sea scorpions, some over 8 feet long that lived 400 million years ago.
8 feet long Scientists fossils found: have uncovered evidence of gigantic sea scorpions that lived around 400 million years ago, significantly larger than any scorpions we know today. According to a study published in the journal Gondwana Research by Dr. Bicknell and his team, these ancient creatures, known as eurypterids, could grow up to 8 feet long, making them much larger than humans. Their fossils were discovered in Australia, providing a glimpse into a time when these giant sea scorpions were the apex predators of the ocean.
Eurypterids, also called sea scorpions, belong to an extinct group of aquatic arthropods. These ancient relatives of crabs, lobsters, and spiders were once the rulers of the seas. The idea that scorpions, which today can fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, were once so enormous is astonishing. Fossils of these massive creatures have been found imprinted in rocks in New South Wales, Australia. The fossils date back to the Silurian era, which was around 443.8 to 419.2 million years ago, and the Devonian era, from 419.2 to 358.9 million years ago.
The researchers identified fossils from two genera of these sea scorpions: Pterygotus and Jaekelopterus. While Pterygotus could grow up to five feet and seven inches, Jaekelopterus could reach over eight feet, a truly terrifying size for any human encountering them. These fossils, found across the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, suggest that these sea scorpions had the ability to swim vast distances, covering thousands of kilometers.
The discovery of these fossils in Australia adds to the growing body of evidence that sea scorpions once inhabited many parts of the world. The researchers believe that the rock formations in New South Wales, where the fossils were found, indicate that these enormous creatures once lived in the area. Most of the fossils discovered were exoskeletons, the hard outer shells of the creatures.
Despite learning a lot about their size and distribution, scientists still have many unanswered questions about these ancient sea scorpions, particularly how they went extinct. It's believed that their extinction occurred around 393 million years ago, possibly due to environmental changes, such as falling sea levels and the formation of glaciers during the early Carboniferous period. However, the exact reasons for their disappearance remain a mystery.
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