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Arthropleura armata

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description Arthropleura armata Overview

Arthropleura armata was a very large terrestrial arthropod related to millipedes that lived during the Carboniferous, with fossils known from Europe. Its body consisted of many articulated segments protected by broad dorsal plates, and trackways attributed to Arthropleura show that it moved across land. Members of the genus may have exceeded two meters in length, placing them among the largest land-dwelling invertebrates known from the fossil record.

help Arthropleura armata FAQ

What was Arthropleura armata?

Arthropleura armata was a very large, terrestrial arthropod related to modern millipedes. It lived during the Carboniferous period and is considered one of the largest known land invertebrates to have ever existed.

Where have fossils of Arthropleura armata been found?

Body fossils and trackways attributed to Arthropleura have primarily been discovered in Europe. These remnants date back to the Carboniferous period, a time when Europe was covered in vast swamp forests.

What physical characteristics distinguished Arthropleura armata?

Its body consisted of many articulated segments protected by broad dorsal plates. Trackways attributed to the genus show that it walked with a sprawling posture and could grow to be well over a meter in length.

What do Arthropleura trackways tell paleontologists?

Fossilized trackways attributed to Arthropleura show that it walked with a sprawling, multi-legged posture. These tracks provide crucial evidence about the locomotion and massive size of these giant prehistoric arthropods.

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