Largest Known Devonian Scorpion Confirmed from UK Fossils
Researchers at London’s Natural History Museum announced the identification of a Devonian scorpion fossil as the largest known species, Praearcturus gigas. The specimens, which had been stored for about 150 years, were uncovered and described in a Yahoo report that highlighted their significance for early terrestrial ecosystems. A New York Post article later noted that the creature measured over three feet long with six-inch pincers, making it the biggest scorpion ever recorded.
Subsequent studies used advanced imaging, according to Yahoo, to confirm that Praearcturus gigas exceeded a metre in length and represented the largest scorpion yet identified. Yahoo News Canada reported that the fossil fragments were definitively linked to the United Kingdom and dated to roughly 415 million years ago. CNN added that a re-examination of the century-old material concluded the arachnid likely led an amphibious lifestyle, rounding out the scientific picture of this ancient predator.
