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Giant millipede Arthropleura linked to millipedes with new fossils possibly longer than a car

Science
Published on 6 May 2026
Giant millipede Arthropleura linked to millipedes with new fossils possibly longer than a car

Its head fossils finally settle what it really was

Researchers say the colossal arthropod Arthropleura—dating to the Carboniferous and early Permian—can now be definitively tied to millipedes thanks to newly discovered head anatomy. The giant likely grew to car-length scales, reshaping how scientists picture ancient land ecosystems and the early evolution of terrestrial life.

  • New fossil evidence connects Arthropleura directly to millipedes
  • Head anatomy findings confirm its long-debated classification
  • The creature may have reached car-length proportions
  • The discovery reshapes views of early land ecosystems
Read the full story at The Economic Times

This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on The Economic TimesThe Economic Times

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