An artist’s rendition of the prehistoric predecessor to the modern day scorpion. Photo: Patrick Lynch/Yale University
Most scorpions today measure in at around one to three inches. But the prehistoric ancestors of the creepy crawlers were bigger…MUCH BIGGER. Researchers with the Iowa Geological Survey have discovered fossils belonging to a new species of scorpion that scampered around the ocean floor some 460 million years ago.
This new species comes in at an average of about six-feet long. That’s taller than the average human. In addition, these guys had multiple pincers, making them a more effective predator. “They have multiple sets of legs,” says James Lamsdell, the lead researcher within the discovery team. “They allow them to grab prey and push it towards their mouth.”
Imagine if these things were in the ocean today, wreaking havoc on surfers and swimmers. I would not be a surfer…and I’d move to Nebraska, just to be safe.
