Giant 8-Foot Millipede Arthropleura Once Ruled Forests, Then Vanished
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News18•27-01-2026, 09:01
Giant 8-Foot Millipede Arthropleura Once Ruled Forests, Then Vanished
- •Arthropleura, an 8-foot long millipede-like creature, was the largest terrestrial invertebrate during the Carboniferous period (346-290 million years ago).
- •It thrived in dense tropical forests with oxygen levels up to 35% higher than today, which contributed to its enormous size.
- •This herbivorous creature, weighing around 50 kg and 50 cm wide, fed on decaying plants and had a segmented, armored body.
- •Fossils have been found in Scotland and Northern England, with a significant discovery in 2021 confirming its immense scale.
- •Arthropleura disappeared during the Permian period due to Earth's drying climate, decreasing oxygen levels, and the emergence of new competitors.
Why It Matters: The colossal Arthropleura, a prehistoric millipede, dominated ancient forests before environmental changes led to its extinction.
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