Scientists have finally revealed what the head of the largest bug to ever roam the Earth looked like. The gigantic creature, measuring nearly 9 feet long with up to 64 legs, was already a terrifying spectacle. However, due to the scarcity of intact fossils, researchers could only speculate about its head.
Many of the fossils found were headless exoskeletons discarded during molting. The latest study, published in Science Advances, unveiled the monstrous bug’s head based on well-preserved juvenile fossils. The head of the colossal insect featured a bulbous shape with two short bell-shaped antennae, crab-like eyes, and a small mouth suitable for munching on leaves and bark.
Called Arthropleura, these creatures belonged to the arthropod group and shared characteristics with modern-day centipedes and millipedes. Remarkably, the Arthropleura had the body of a millipede but the head of a centipede, making them a unique blend of features. Debate continues on whether these bugs were the largest to have ever existed, potentially rivaling even giant sea scorpions.
Research spanning Europe and North America has collected fragments and footprints of these colossal bugs since the late 1800s. The recent breakthrough came from studying CT scans of fossil specimens embedded in rocks discovered in a French coal field decades ago. Even though the juvenile fossils measured only about 2 inches, they offered insights into the appearance of adult Arthropleura from 300 million years ago.
The meticulous CT scans allowed researchers to observe hidden details of the head without causing damage to the fragile fossils, providing a clearer picture of this ancient behemoth. The study sheds light on the intriguing anatomy of these extinct creatures, offering a glimpse into Earth’s distant past and the astonishing diversity of life that once thrived on the planet.