A sea scorpion the size of a dog that lived 400 million years ago

Photo Illustration: Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology

Uzone.id – Scorpions are known as small reptiles that have spiked claws and a poisonous sting.

With a small size, scorpion venom can provide quite painful pain and make the limbs swell.

In contrast to the current size, the ancient sea scorpion turned out to have a size many times larger, it could even be the size of an adult dog.

Quoted from Cnet, Tuesday (11/09/2021), this sea-dwelling scorpion could have a length of more than 1 meter and was probably the top predator at that time.

Photo illustration: Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology

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Scientists found the fossilized remains of a scorpion-like creature on the seabed of China, thought to have lived more than 400 years ago.

The scorpion ruler of China’s oceans is named Terropterus xiushanensis, a giant marine animal that belongs to the family Mixopteridae, a class of large scorpion creatures equipped with needles and spikes like needles and a serrated knife-like tail.

“This limb is probably used to catch prey, and the analogy can be described as ‘catching basket‘ formed by the spiked whip spider’s pedipalps,” the researchers wrote in a paper published in the November issue of the journal Science Bulletin.

“Our knowledge of this strange animal is limited to only four species in two genera described 80 years ago,” said the international research group in the study.

Relatives of these creatures are found in areas around Scotland, New York, Norway, and Estonia.

This creature was the first of its kind to be found near South China and is the oldest member of the ferocious Mixopteridae clan.

Also read: The World’s First Animal, Lived 900 Million Years Ago

Long ago, in the Early Silurian period, about 443.8 million years ago and 419.2 million years ago, this area was known as Gondwana.

“Large thorny legs and potentially poisonous telson are used to catch and attack its prey.”

“Terropterus may have played an important role as apex predators in marine ecosystems during the Early Silurian period, when there were no giant vertebrate competitors in Southern China.”

Fossils of these creatures also show various patterns used for hunting for food at night.

The existence of these animals is thought to have been eliminated due to sharks and other more modern predators playing in the ecosystem.

This ancient scorpion no longer dominates the China Sea and may be gradually eliminated until its presence is no longer detected.

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