The largest-ever fossil of a giant millipede -- as big as a car -- has been found on a beach in the north of England. The fossil -- the remains of a creature called Arthropleura -- dates from the Carboniferous Period, about 326 million years ago, over 100 million years before the Age of Dinosaurs. The fossil reveals that Arthropleura was the largest-known invertebrate animal of all time, larger than the ancient sea scorpions that were the previous record holders. The fossil was extracted in May 2018 with permission from Natural England and the landowners, the Howick Estate. Although this is the largest Arthropleura fossil skeleton ever found, there is still much to learn about these creatures.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 21, 2021 18:03 UTC