Brontoscorpio
| Brontoscorpio anglicus Temporal range: Upper Silurian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | † Eoscorpiidae |
| Genus: | † Brontoscorpio Kjellesvig-Waering, 1972 |
| Binomial name | |
| † Brontoscorpio anglicus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1972 | |
Brontoscorpio anglicus is a species of fossil scorpion. Its remains were discovered in Upper Silurian-aged sandstone from Trimpley, Worcestershire, and the species was described on the basis of an incomplete single free finger of a pedipalp, almost 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long.[1][2] The complete animal is estimated to be at least 90 centimetres (35 in) long and aquatic.[1] Its carnivorous diet may have consisted of worms, fish, or other arthropods.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kjellesvig-Waering, Erik N. (1972). "Brontoscorpio anglicus: a gigantic Lower Paleozoic scorpion from central England". Journal of Paleontology 46 (1): 39–42. JSTOR 1302906.
- ↑ Jeram, Andrew J. "Phylogeny, classification and evolution of Silurian and Devonian scorpions". In Selden, Paul A. Proceedings of the 17th European Colloquium of Arachnology, Edinburgh 1997, 1998 (PDF).
- ↑ Haines, Tim; Chambers, Paul (2005). "Brontoscorpio". The complete guide to prehistoric life (First ed.). Buffalo, N.Y.: Firefly Books. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-55407-181-4.
It would use its claws and stinger to catch worms, fish, trilobites or any other animals that came within range.