| “ | Arthropleura. He's a distant relative of modern millipedes, but as long as a car. He can rear up tall enough to look you right in the eye. | „ |
| — Allen, about Arthropleura in Arthropods of the Swamp | ||
Arthropleura (name meaning "Jointed Ribs") is a genus of millipede arthropod that originated during the Late Carboniferous Era in what is now North America and Europe. A distant relative of modern millipedes and centipedes mesuring 3 meters long, it was the largest known of all the terrestrial arthropods as well as the largest land invertebrate of all time and grew so large because of the high concentration of oxygen level in the Carboniferous's atmosphere. Despite its large size, Arthropleura was herbivorous, in fact, one of the first mainly herbivorous terrestrial animals. They had strong jaws, but it is unlikely that it may have been poisonous for defense.
In the Series 1 episode "Arthropods of the Swamp" several Arthropleura were brought to the park from Late Carboniferous Scotland, 300 million years ago. They reside in the Bug Dome Enclosure. Additionally, a large individual (a 20 ft male named Arthur) followed the group through the portal and resides in this own enclosure.
Facts[]
Era & Discovery[]
Arthropleura lived in North America and Scotland during the Late Carboniferous, approximately 315 – 299 million years ago. It lived alongside other animals like Megarachne, Meganeura, and even the primitive reptiles and giant predatory amphibians. Since their discovery in 1854, there are many fossilized footprints from Arthropleura can be found on the coast of Scotland in the Scottish land of Arron.
Physical Description[]
Arthropleura fossil
Arthropluera was perhaps the largest arthropod of the Carboniferous and was overall among the largest arthropods that ever lived, measuring on average between 6.6 – 10 feet (2 – 3 m) long, as large as a man or crocodile and as long as a car. However, there were very rare colossal specimens that were discovered to have measured around 20 feet (6 m) in length. Arthropleura is the largest land arthropod known, a huge relative of the modern millipedes closely resembling a giant centipede or millipede.
Behavior & Traits[]
Arthropleura was a solitary creature, often foraging on the forest floors of the Carboniferous. Arthropleura was a massive arthropod that they were such powerful beasts. In spite of its daunting appearance, it as a herbivore, feeding on the rotting foliage, dead-wood and leaves on the floor of the steamy Carboniferous Period swamp forests. Although later found out they were vegetarians, their strong jaws can still have delivered a nasty bite.
Arthropleura was herbivorous though when they were juveniles, they ate meat because they couldn't digest plants until they grew older. Arthropleura was one of the first animals to eat plants, they had strong jaws, but it is unlikely that it may have been poisonous for defense. Arthropleura was practically blind but had a good sense of smell and touch through which to detect other animals. It is discovered that while Arthropleura was a timid creature, it was also shown to be highly aggressive and could be easily provoked into attacking.
Most Arthropleura lived in piles of leaves or foliage or in small underground dens whilst some lived out in the open. As its body armor was colored similar to its surroundings, Arthropleura was camouflaged. However, its armor couldn't protect it from the Carboniferous forest fires. Although the animal would often crouch for cover on the ground, most of the time it was burned alive.
Trivia[]
- Arthropleura is the largest arthropod brought to the park.
- Despite being an insect, Arthropleura appears to make sounds used gillman screeches and hisses of some kind.