These Lovecraftian nightmares were calledArthropleura, and they are the largest known species of arthropods to have ever existed.
Scientists from several French universities may have found the answer by looking the bizarre critters straight in the face.
Alligator-Sized Millipede Fossil Found on English Beach
That was actually a fairly difficult thing to do.
If you think finding a centipede in your living room is bad, get a load of its (very) distant cousin.Illustration: Lhéritier et al., Sci. Adv. 10, eadp6362 (2024)
Their diet, the scientists wrote, likely consisted of already dead animals they could scavenge.
Without direct evidence from digestive tracts, it is still unclear exactly whatArthropleuraate, he wrote.
The respiratory organs also remain unknown, leaving the possibility thatArthropleurawas aquatic.
One of the fossils that was used to recreate Arthropleura’s face. © Lhéritier et al., Sci. Adv. 10, eadp6362 (2024)
Lamsdell said it also cant be ruled out thatArthropleuraspent different stages of its life in different environments.
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