Can't Squish This Pest...

While we're on the subject of prehistoric activity, scientists have just discovered a fossilized claw in a German quarry that's believed to be part of an ancient sea scorpion. It's eight feet long, making it a smidge taller than Michael Jordan and no shorter than most compact cars. The research article also calls it the "largest anthropod ever to have evolved."

The 390-million-year-old rock may help paleontologists redefine just how humongous primitive creatures were during an epoch when warding off attackers was commonplace. Their size evolution was doubly crucial considering their once easy prey, fish, had grown a hard armored shell. Plus, they ballooned in length alongside other equally intimidating spiders, insects and crab - all of which were jockeying for control of their animal kingdom.

From the Associated Press:

"We have known for some time that the fossil record yields monster millipedes, super-sized scorpions, colossal cockroaches, and jumbo dragonflies. But we never realized until now just how big some of these ancient creepy-crawlies were," University of Bristol paleontologist Simon Braddy said. Braddy and Markus Poschmann both discovered the claw in Germany.

Of course, they were the preeminent species at one point, facing no natural enemies until a slow extinction from the very prey they once sought - fish. With jaws. Yep, that's a tough break in the Paleozoic Era. Still, you can't deny they were the kingliest of carnivorous predators in their heyday. Heck, they even cannibalized themselves because the meat was available and they needed a fresh meal comparable to their body weight.

From an NPR article:

"They kind of looked like a flattened submarine," Yale paleontologist Eric Tetlie said. "Then they had these massive claws in front which could be up to a meter long."

Unlike their common descendants, NPR says, this gigantic sea scorpion - called an "eurypterid" - munched their prey whole without injecting a poisonous dose from their stinger. But these monstrosities disappeared 225 million years ago - when said prey devoured them. However, other scientists believe the scorpion die-off was a result of oxygen deficiency in the oceans.

Whatever the cause, you best believe that an eight-foot gargantuan is lumpy potatoes next to it's other, more ravenous contemporaries. And no, I'm not talking about the fish. I'm talking about dinosaurs like the ichthyosaurs.

There's an NPR radio news report on the subject on their website. Select "Listen Now" after clicking here.

Images Courtesy NPR.org, Associated Press