Re: Giant millipede

On 10/19/24 8:45 AM, erik simpson wrote:

Here's and account of a nini-foot millipede that would keep you inside if you saw it in your yard.
 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adp6362
 Abstract
The Carboniferous myriapod Arthropleura is the largest arthropod of all time, but its fossils are usually incomplete, limiting the understanding of its anatomy, ecology, and relationships. Micro–computed tomography applied to exceptionally preserved specimens from the Carboniferous Montceau-les-Mines Lagerstätte (France) reveals unprecedented details of its functional anatomy, such as the head and mouthparts. Arthropleura shares features with both millipedes and centipedes. Total-evidence phylogeny combining morphological and transcriptomic data resolves Arthropleura alone as a stem group millipede, but the inclusion of the highly incomplete Siluro-Devonian Eoarthropleura draws it deeper into the myriapod stem. Arthropleura suggests transitional morphology between clades united primarily by molecular information and underscores the value of total-evidence phylogenetics to understanding evolutionary history.

Pharyngula had a recent post on the subject:
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/?s=arthropleura
A couple of museums I've been to have lifesized models; they're going to have to fix the heads.