Unveiling the Head of an Ancient Giant Bug

Researchers have successfully reconstructed the head of Arthropleura, an ancient arthropod that may have been the largest bug to ever exist, reaching lengths of up to nine feet. Utilizing CT scans of well-preserved juvenile fossils from a French coal field, they revealed that this giant creature had a round head resembling a centipede, complete with short antennae, protruding eyes, and a small grinding mouth designed for processing plant material.

This remarkable discovery provides insight into the biology of Arthropleura, which thrived 300 million years ago, and highlights the challenges faced in studying its fossils, often found as headless exoskeletons. The findings, published in Science Advances, illuminate a fascinating chapter in Earth's prehistoric life.