Paleontologists have discovered new giant arthropods. An article about it was published in Scientific Reports.
The discovery was made on the territory of Morocco, in the Fezuat formation, which in ancient times was covered with oceans. More research is needed to analyze these fragments, but judging by the examples previously described, such giant arthropods can reach 2 meters in length.
“While the giant arthropods we discovered are not yet fully described, some may belong to previously described species from the Fezuata Formation of Morocco, and some may certainly belong to new species.”, the scientists explain. Fossils found in these rocks contain mineralized elements (such as shells), but some also show exceptional preservation of the soft tissues of internal organs, allowing scientists to study the anatomy of early animal life on Earth.
The inhabitants of the Fezuata Formation lived in shallow water, subject to constant storms and waves that buried them after death. Some bivalve-like arachnids were found attached to arthropod parts; this suggests that the large shells served as food reserves for the seafloor inhabitants after the death of the carriers. In addition, previously unknown species of trilobites were discovered.
Source: Port Altele
