Scientists told about the found remains of a giant sea scorpion

Nick Freeman, a resident of Theodore in the Australian state of Queensland, in the 1990s discovered an unusual fossil in its area. In 2013, he handed it over to the employees of the city museum, and only now scientists have been able to identify the find.

Researchers thinkThe last eurypterid – a southern high-latitude record of sweep-feeding sea scorpion from Australia constrains the timing of their extinction / Historical Biologythat the fossil is part of a giant sea scorpion. It was named after Freeman - Woodwardopterus freemanorum.

The scorpion lived 252 million years ago and at that time was the largest aquatic predator: its body length was about 1 m. to identify the animal, Australian researchers invited the German scientist Markus Poschmann, who specializes in such creatures.

Paleontologists noted that the found scorpion is the last known eurypterid. This specimen existed at the end of the Permian period, but soon the species disappeared along with other groups of animals.

Dr. Poschmann added: the scorpion is a significant find for Australian researchers and world paleontology in general. It will help fill a gap in knowledge about prehistoric sea scorpions. Previously, scientists have not found such creatures in Australia.