Arthropleura

Arthropleura was a giant Arthropleurid Myriapod, giving its name to its family. It was one of the largest Arthropods of all time, and at least the largest of all the Arthropods ever to live exclusively on land. It was over 2.6 - 3.2 metres long. Only the Eurypterid (Sea Scorpion) Jaekelopterus, was apparently fractionally bigger. Nevertheless, Arthropleura was a huge relative of the modern millipedes, and it was heavily defended by thick armour - because in spite of its daunting appearance, it as a herbivore, feeding on the rotting foliage on the floor of the steamy Carboniferous Period swamp forests. Evidence for Arthropleura comes from Scotland, with fossils and fossiled trackways.