Scorpion the size of a dog? Understand ancient discovery

A paleontological review confirmed that Praearcturus gigas, an arthropod from the Devonian period, is one of the largest scorpions ever recorded. The analysis, published in the journal Palaeontology, indicates that the animal was 23 centimeters long and had claws (chelas) that reached 16 centimeters.

The fossils, found in geological formations in Great Britain, belong to a species that inhabited the Earth approximately 412 million years ago.

The study notes that determining the exact total body length is difficult due to the fragmentary nature of the fossils, but confirms that P. gigas was a giant compared to the largest living scorpion (Gigantometrus), which has claws just 3.7 centimeters long - Dunlop & Garwood / PeerJopens / CC BY-SA 4.0/Reproduction

Characteristics and Habitat
The systematic study determined that P. gigas presented morphological characteristics, such as lateral epimeres, which suggest an aquatic or amphibious way of life in river systems.

The research also established that other previously described species, such as Brontoscorpio anglicus, are synonymous with P. gigas.

Ecological impact
As a top predator, this giant scorpion occupied ecological niches in early-stage terrestrial ecosystems, before the diversification of large vertebrates.

The data reinforces the predominance of scorpions in relation to other arachnids in the early days.

Source: CNN