University of Manchester Identifies World's Largest Scorpion from 415 Million Years Ago
Researchers from the University of Manchester have identified the world's largest scorpion, Praearcturus gigas, which lived approximately 415 million years ago during the Devonian period. The discovery was made from fossil fragments that had been stored in the museum's collection for over 150 years. These fragments, originally found in England and Wales, were initially misidentified due to their incomplete nature. However, modern imaging and analytical techniques allowed paleontologists to piece together the remains and confirm the scorpion's identity. The Praearcturus gigas, measuring 3.3 feet in length with pincers 6.2 inches long, is now recognized as a significant prehistoric predator. The scorpion's size is attributed to the lack of competition during its time, as it lived in an era before the evolution of trees and large terrestrial animals. 
