So you think the roaches in your basement are big, check this out.

[alfredo]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21906979/

Scientists find fossil of super-sized bug
Sea scorpion, which measured 8 feet long, was once world's biggest bug

University Of Bristol / AP

LONDON - This was a bug that you'd have to look up to and definitely couldn't step on.

British scientists have stumbled across a fossilized claw, part of an ancient sea scorpion, that is of such large proportion it would make the entire creature the biggest bug ever.

How big? Bigger than you, about 2.5 meters, or 8 feet, long.


This is a computer generated image issued by the University of Bristol in England shows a size comparison between a human an ancient sea scorpion.

[RushIsRot]

1. I'd hate to stumble upon that in MY kitchen! I'd stop cooking!

Hell, I might even stop eating!

I suspect it wouldn't, but that's just me.

[Orsino]

2. We're gonna need a bigger boat.

Or, "I'll be in my bunk."

[stuntcat]

3. lol!!

"That's no moon.."

[EstimatedProphet]

4. It's not a bug though

It's a crustacean. So it's a better comparison to a lobster than a cockroach.

[alfredo]

10. It is a descendent of the scorpion.

[EstimatedProphet]

13. Scorpions aren't insects

And, scorpions are descendents of it, or its relatives, rather than the other way around.

[alfredo]

17. Sorry, had that backwards

[SallyMander]

18. Actually scorpions are arachnids

More closely related to spiders... Crustacea is another class in the same phylum (Arthropoda)... yes i am a huge dork :P

[EstimatedProphet]

25. Exactly my point

Crustacea are more closely related to arachnids than insects. There are no marine insects.

Also, while I am expounding, the word "bug" really only applies to the family Hemiptera of the insects. They are known for piercing sucking mouthparts which inject a neurotoxin.

[SallyMander]

26. But both the Crustacea and Hexapoda (insects)

are mandibulates, while the arachnids are chelicerates. I'm pretty sure this would mean crustaceans and insects share a more recent common ancestor than either do with the arachnids, since Chelicerata is considered its own subphylum.

I'm with you on the Hemipterans though.

I love bio-nerds! :loveya:

[EstimatedProphet]

27. Good point. I concede that.

And (I admit I haven't read the article) I wonder if this is supposed to be a real ancestor to the scorpion, or is it just called a scorpion because of how it looks. It may be a crustacean after all.

Long-time bio-nerd here... :)

[SallyMander]

28. It sure looks like a crustacean

but from the article: "Eurypterids, or ancient sea scorpions, are believed to be the extinct aquatic ancestors of today's scorpions and possibly all arachnids, a class of joint-legged, invertebrate animals, including spiders, scorpions, mites and ticks."

Pretty neat to think that the common ancestor of all those terrestrial taxa may in fact have been marine!

[mainegreen]

5. I love those things.

It's an arthropod.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. I saw that on BBC this morning! They had some great computer animation

showing it attacking and eating other creatures.

Only the British would do that.

[Pierre.Suave]

7. or the...

Discovery Channel...

[LeftyMom]

12. They do the good stuff in conjunction with the BBC or repackage BBC programing

such as the "Walking with..." films. Often the only difference is a voice over with a dumbed-down script being read by an American actor, the footage is the same.

[alfredo]

16. Is this it?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6809806773971659290&q=sea+scorpion&total=71&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=3


One makes an appearance here

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1263105392621009735&q=Eurypterid&total=3&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

[Wetzelbill]

8. exactly

I just made another post on that. Fucking thing is huge!!!

[Lord Wortherington]

9. Scientists discover fossil of alien "grey" next to fossil of giant sea bug.

That anthropomorph was it's last meal maybe.

[alfredo]

11. Before or after eating.

[MilesColtrane]

14. You call that a large arthropod?

Now THIS is a large arthropod!




I'm gonna need a lot more melted butter...

[Pierre.Suave]

15. wow

that is huge, glad you escaped....

Where is that thing so I know to stay away?

Anyway, I see you must be a jazz fan by your screen name. Hello fellow jazz fan! not enough of us around anymore.

[MilesColtrane]

19. It's far enough away. (I think)

That's Kingston SE, Australia. ...about 125 miles south of Adelaide.

[Fire Walk With Me]

20. In Jurassic Russia, bug squashes YOU!

[alfredo]

22. Thanks Yakov

[Fire Walk With Me]

24. Is truth!

[alfredo]

29. Comrade!!!

[SeattleGirl]

21. Jeebus! That is the stuff of nightmares!

:scared:

[alfredo]

23. No, this is

[Fire Walk With Me]

32. Yoiks!

[alfredo]

33. I first saw her several years ago.

since then I have had these horrible lesions all over my body.

[sarge43]

30. "That's some cockroach."

"Bite your head off, man."

[alfredo]

31. Your can of Raid won't help you now.