An international team of scientists from France, the UK and the USA has determined the appearance of Arthropleura, the largest insect that ever lived on Earth. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Science Advances (SciAdv).
Arthropleura lived on our planet about 300 million years ago. These were centipedes that were three meters long, had 32 pairs of legs and weighed more than 50 kilograms.
Most of the fossils discovered of these creatures are the headless shells left behind after molting. As the arthropods grew, they crawled out of their own exoskeletons through a hole in their heads.
In a new study, researchers examined well-preserved juvenile Arthropleura specimens found in France in the 1980s. Researchers used tomography, which makes it possible to examine living things without removing them from the rock.
Scientists concluded that the centipede’s head resembled a round onion with two short antennae and eyes on stalks, reminiscent of the visual organs of modern crabs. The insect had a relatively small mouth designed to feed on tree bark and leaves.
Previously very rare fossil helped Researchers to uncover the secret of the evolution of spiders and crabs.