Arthropleura

Arthropleura is an extinct genus of giant myriapods, often described as millipede-like arthropods, that lived in what is now Europe and North America during the late Carboniferous to early Permian periods.

Arthropleura is an extinct genus of giant myriapods, often described as millipede-like arthropods, that lived in what is now Europe and North America during the late Carboniferous to early Permian periods. It is widely regarded as the largest known terrestrial arthropod in Earth’s history, with some individuals exceeding 2.6 metres in length. Fossil evidence includes both exoskeletons and trackways.

Description

Arthropleura was a very large segmented arthropod with a hard exoskeleton and many legs, giving it a superficial resemblance to modern millipedes. Fossil evidence shows that it reached extraordinary sizes, making it the largest known land arthropod.

Classification

Modern studies place Arthropleura among myriapods and suggest it was a stem millipede rather than a true insect or centipede. Its exact relationships within myriapods have been refined by recent fossil discoveries and phylogenetic analysis.

Fossil record and range

Arthropleura is known from fossils and trace fossils found in Europe and North America. The genus lived from the late Carboniferous into the early Permian, spanning roughly 346.7 to 293.5 million years ago.

Palaeobiology

Recent studies of newly discovered head fossils suggest Arthropleura was likely a detritivore or herbivore rather than a predator. It is generally associated with terrestrial environments of the late Paleozoic, including forested and open lowland habitats.