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Scorpion bigger than human described
world-science-news ^
| Nov. 30, 2005
Posted on 03/08/2006 1:17:15 PM PST by S0122017
Scorpion bigger than human described
Nov. 30, 2005 Courtesy Nature and World Science staff
A geologist working in Scotland has uncovered footprints that he says come from a fearsome water scorpion bigger than a human.
The Desert Hairy Scorpion Hadrurus arizonensis (Courtesy Imagers NASA Science Education)
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The tracks were made about 330 million years ago by a six-legged creature called Hibbertopterus, according to Martin Whyte of the University of Sheffield, U.K.
Hibbertopterus was some 1.6 metres (5¼ feet) long and a metre (3¼ feet) wide, he added.
The tracks show that this now-extinct group of animals, previously thought to dwell in water only, could also survive on land, according to Whyte.
At around the same time as the creature lived, scientists believe our own four-limbed ancestors were also making their first steps towards leaving the water and colonizing the land.
The six-metre-long trackway reveals strides that were 27 cm (11 inches) long, and also features a central groove left by the creature’s dragging tail, according to Whyte. This, he added, shows the creature was probably a very slow, lumbering beast when moving on land.
Whyte described the finding in the Dec. 1 issue of the research journal Nature.
TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: crevolist; fossils; hereiam; rockmelikeahurricane
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To: S0122017
41
posted on
03/08/2006 1:40:41 PM PST
by
Lady Jag
( All I want is a kind word, a warm bed, and world domination)
To: BadAndy
42
posted on
03/08/2006 1:40:43 PM PST
by
mlc9852
To: nomorelurker
I know scorpions are not insects but arachnids. However don't they have a size limit because of how they breath?
Scientist think there used to be a lot higher oxygen content of the atmosphere, allowing animals and plants to grow bigger then nowadays, like dinos. http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1440460.htm
43
posted on
03/08/2006 1:41:06 PM PST
by
S0122017
To: S0122017
44
posted on
03/08/2006 1:41:51 PM PST
by
finnman69
(cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestu s globus, inflammare animos)
To: S0122017
Must make a great dinner!
45
posted on
03/08/2006 1:41:55 PM PST
by
mlc9852
To: S0122017
Old news....
46
posted on
03/08/2006 1:42:16 PM PST
by
Deut28
(Cursed be he who perverts the justice)
To: All
330 million years ago? How about 1 million years B.C.? It sounds more like a creature from that movie. A classic photo......
47
posted on
03/08/2006 1:45:44 PM PST
by
edpc
To: S0122017
48
posted on
03/08/2006 1:45:50 PM PST
by
indcons
(The MSM - Mainstream Slime Merchants)
To: S0122017
Scientist think there used to be a lot higher oxygen content of the atmosphere, allowing animals and plants to grow bigger then nowadays...You mean...
We're running out of air! We're running out of air! Gaaaak!
49
posted on
03/08/2006 1:46:16 PM PST
by
Shalom Israel
(There's a reason cows ain't extinct.)
To: mlc9852
I'm curious as to how they arrived at 330 million years ago. The geology of the British Isles is one of the best studied in the world. They have a very clear understanding of the ages of the various geologic layers that those islands are comprised of. It would be simple to identify which layer this feature was located in, and obtain a corresponding age.
50
posted on
03/08/2006 1:48:21 PM PST
by
ElkGroveDan
(California bashers will be called out)
To: indcons
Like them Skorpions:
51
posted on
03/08/2006 1:49:01 PM PST
by
indcons
(The MSM - Mainstream Slime Merchants)
To: ElkGroveDan
52
posted on
03/08/2006 1:50:06 PM PST
by
mlc9852
To: S0122017
Old news....
53
posted on
03/08/2006 1:52:44 PM PST
by
Deut28
(Cursed be he who perverts the justice)
To: RockinRight
Possibly Ray Harryhausen had something to do with it:
Clash of the Titans ping!
54
posted on
03/08/2006 1:52:59 PM PST
by
Crolis
(Conservatism: It does a body politic good!)
To: mlc9852
Multiple ones. But certainly not carbon dating, in case you were unsure.
55
posted on
03/08/2006 1:53:14 PM PST
by
ahayes
To: mlc9852
Okay - by which method? Take your pick. My guess is every part of that area has been dated bynumerous different methods. My point is that there may be questiosn about the ages of various continental formations in various parts of the globe, but the UK is not one of them.
56
posted on
03/08/2006 1:53:46 PM PST
by
ElkGroveDan
(California bashers will be called out)
To: GreenFreeper
In some cases, extinction might not be such a bad thing! Creepy!
57
posted on
03/08/2006 1:54:14 PM PST
by
Chanticleer
(Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready. T. Roosevelt)
To: ahayes
Carbon dating only is good for about 50,000 years so that obviously wasn't the case here. Now do you know what type of dating they did use?
58
posted on
03/08/2006 1:54:30 PM PST
by
mlc9852
To: S0122017
"The tracks were made about 330 million years ago "Whew, I got scared there for a moment. Tons of scorpions here in Texas, gotta check yer shoes before you put them on!
59
posted on
03/08/2006 1:54:57 PM PST
by
WestCoastGal
(If you believe you can't win, you have lost before the race has begun."-Dale Jr)
To: S0122017
60
posted on
03/08/2006 1:56:30 PM PST
by
Old Professer
(The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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