Megarachne

Megarachne is an extinct genus of giant eurypterids from the Pennsylvanian period. It is often misunderstood as a spider because Megarachne means "great spider".

Description

Size

Megarachne was a large sea scorpion, however other species were bigger, such as Hibbertopterus, which can reach more than 1.5 m (59 in).[1]

Appearance

Megarachne had blade-like things on its limbs to do a feeding method called "sweep-feeding" and a second abdomen (opisthosoma) that doesn't have a known function.[2]

  • Outdated Megarachne reconstructed as a big spider at the Natural History Museum of Geneva
  • A megarachne reconstruction based on fossils

References

  1. ↑ Lamsdell, Braddy, James C.; Simon J. (23 April 2010). "Cope's Rule and Romer's theory: patterns of diversity and gigantism in eurypterids and Palaeozoic vertebrates". Biology Letters.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Selden, Corronca, Hünicken, Paul A; José A; Mario A (22 April 2005). "The true identity of the supposed giant fossil spider Megarachne – 4. Discussion". Biology Letters.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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