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New Fossils Shed Light on the Largest Millipede Ever
Recent discoveries of two exceptionally preserved fossils have provided scientists with intriguing insights into the anatomy of the largest known arthropod to roam the Earth. This massive millipede, scientifically known as Arthropleura, exceeded the length of a king-size bed and thrived during the Carboniferous period, approximately 346 to 290 million years ago.
Arthropleura was first identified in 1854, but the scientific community had never encountered a fossil that showcased its head until now. “It took more than a century of research to uncover a specimen with a head. Finally, we have achieved this milestone,” explains Mickaël Lhéritier, a paleontologist affiliated with Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 in France.
Using advanced micro CT scans, the researchers analyzed the recently discovered fossils from present-day France. These scans unveiled remarkable details about the giant millipede’s anatomy, including its antennae, eyes, mandibles, and other feeding appendages. Findings, published in Science Advances on October 9, highlight significant revelations about this prehistoric creature.
Prior to this study, experts assumed that Arthropleura would resemble modern-day millipedes in terms of head structure. However, the fossils exhibited characteristics likened to a more ancestral state within their evolutionary lineage, suggesting striking differences. “While Arthropleura has the body arrangement typical of millipedes—with two pairs of legs per body segment—it also boasts a head akin to that of a centipede,” Lhéritier notes, emphasizing that the mouthparts particularly exhibit centipedelike qualities. Despite these features, various anatomical assessments and phylogenomic data still place Arthropleura firmly in the millipede category, according to the research team.
While the fossils have greatly enhanced current understanding of Arthropleura, critical questions remain unanswered. Researchers seek to uncover what this colossal millipede consumed and its possible habitats—whether it primarily navigated terrestrial environments, aquatic settings, or had the ability to thrive in both. Notably, the newly uncovered fossils indicate that Arthropleura possessed stalklike eyes, reminiscent of a crab, suggesting that its lifestyle may have involved aquatic elements.
Lastly, uncertainties linger regarding sexual dimorphism in size; it is still unclear whether both male and female Arthropleura exhibited these enormous dimensions or the durations of growth from juvenile stages to their remarkable adult size.
As research continues, the potential for future discoveries promises to further unveil the life and environment of this astonishing millipede, sparking curiosity about what additional findings may emerge next.
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