Primeval Arthropleura | Arthropleura Size | Arthropleura Fossil | Arthropleura Facts

 Arthropleura

Arthropleura is a genus of extinct millipedes that lived in the Carboniferous and early Permian periods. They were among the largest known land invertebrates of all time, with lengths up to 2 meters (6 ft 7 in)

Arthropleura, translated to jointed rib, is a prehistoric creature that existed in the Carboniferous-Permian era. It is believed to have lived in families and burrowed in damp habitats in order to avoid dry habitats.

The word “arthropleura” means “thick shell” in Greek. The name was assigned because the creature has a very thick shield that covers most of its body. Arthropleura is the only animal that has its entire body covered by a single shield.

This organism is a type of millipede arthropod that is known for its length. They were just over two meters long. These organisms lived primarily in ocean margins and died off about 279 million years ago.

According to Wikipedia, the Arthropleura is an extinct genus of millipedes, known from remains found worldwide in deposits from the Late Carboniferous to the Early Permian. All fossil evidence is subject to debate.

Scientists believe that the Arthropleura was a 12-inch-long millipede that could spread its body into a 7-foot wide “shield” to protect itself.

Arthropleura Size

The arthropleura were among the largest land invertebrates of their time and are sometimes called “king” or “queen” millipedes because they were so large.

They were among the largest arthropods to ever live on land, reaching lengths of up to 2 meters (6 ft 7 in). The name means “jointed leg” from Ancient Greek ἄρθρον (“joint”) and πλέωϝας (“leg”), referring to their unusual body shape.

Fossilized remains have been found in Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa.

Arthropleura Facts

The primeval arthropleura is a species of giant, prehistoric centipede that lived during the Carboniferous period. They were first discovered in 1829 by William Buckland and are sometimes called “Buckland’s beast” or “Buckland’s centipede” because he was the first to study them.

It has been estimated that they could grow up to three feet long, but fossilized remains have only been found from around one foot in length, so it is difficult to say for sure.

The name comes from the Greek words arthron (joint) and pleura (side), meaning “jointed side.”  They are among the largest known land invertebrates, with some species reaching lengths of up to 2 meters.

They lived in what is now Europe, North America, and Russia during the Carboniferous period.

Arthropleura  Habitants

Arthropleura was an invertebrate (i.e., it lacks a backbone) that lives in the sand on the seafloor and is shaped like a leaf, making it more difficult to spot than other creatures. It belongs to the group of animals called polychaetes because of its multiple antennae, or feelers, which can detect movement from predators; if threatened by a fish or crustacean, it can quickly withdraw its head into its body and enter a state similar to hibernation.

Arthropleura has a long, thin body covered by a single, leathery shell. Its three pairs of legs are very small compared to the rest of its body, and all have claws at the ends. This clawed foot can be withdrawn into the body for protection; it is still capable of sensing if anything is touching it.

These polychaete animals have no eyes or mouth; their bodies are filled with tubes that extend into their mouthparts and provide sensory information by rubbing them against surfaces in the environment.

The backside of an arthropleura has a broad, leathery shield covering the entire body and is used for protection. The front side is also covered by a large shield, but this one is split into two shields.

This makes it easier for the creature to move around on the hard seafloor and supports its weak body. Each of these shields is covered in tiny teeth that help scrape any food particles off surfaces.

The arthropleura moves by crawling along the seafloor and frequently visits the surface. It has been observed swimming in order to avoid predators, and it can swim using its legs. When arthropleura is on the seafloor, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the water and excretes waste into the water.

Most food items for arthropleura are made from shells and plants that break down into the same substance. The animal uses a siphon to bring water into its mouth, and once there, it sucks away the dissolved material.

In addition to eating things made of shell fragments, arthropleura will also eat dead animals or plant matter, as well as animals that have eaten or otherwise consumed the plants and animals that arthropleura eats.

When arthropleura is threatened, it withdraws into its armor and folds itself up. The body’s fragile nature means that the animals are unable to move in this condition and typically freeze for long periods of time.

The creature’s shell is made of a very tough material called chitin, making it difficult for predators to break open the animal.

In this state of protection, the arthropleura is still able to use its legs, and it can even make sounds through water pressure. The creature can be moved by an organism that has a much stronger body, such as a clam.

Although most of an arthropleura’s life is spent burrowed in the sand, it can move around above the seafloor by crawling and using its tiny legs to propel itself. When threatened, the arthropleura withdraws into its hard shell and remains motionless until it can locate an area where it can escape.

Arthropleura Fossil

The Arthropleura is an extinct genus of millipede in the order of Polydesmida. The various species ranged from a few centimeters long to over 2 meters (6 ft 7 in). It lived from the Late Devonian to the Triassic periods, existing from 385 million to 201 million years ago.

Named species of Arthropleura include:

• Arthropleura darwinii,
• Arthropleura gilliesi
• Arthropleura Archibald.

A compound millipede lived during the Silurian period about 385 million years ago. The Arthropleura had a pair of paired legs at each end and a third set in between for locomotion. The species was first described by the English naturalist William Buckland in 1828.

The oldest fossils for the genus were identified from limestone rocks at Altimira, Spain. These specimens date to between 385 million and 400 million years old.

The group’s fossil record is extensive: they are easily identified because of the genus’s unusual characteristics, a composite organism with a central body and two jointed legs. In older specimens, one pair is usually longer than the other, but the differences are more subtle in newer ones.

Only the last third of each leg is movable, with the tips forming into claws on one side and spines on the other. Most species had two pairs of these segments. The middle pair formed the main body and contained a single body cavity with a single anus.

The other pairs were made up of head, thorax, and abdomen, which tapered to sharp points at the ends. Arthropleura could move by crawling on only three pairs of legs, but in some species, they could use all their legs to move in one direction.

Primeval Arthropleura