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Newly Discovered Sea Creature Was Once the Largest Animal On Earth

Posted by samzenpus on from the we're-going-to-need-a-bigger-pot dept.

sciencehabit writes Almost half a billion years ago, the largest animal on Earth was a 2-meter-long, helmet-headed sea creature that fed on some of the ocean's tiniest prey. The newly described species is one of the largest arthropods yet discovered, a class of animals that includes spiders and crabs. The well-preserved remains of the multisegmented creature are providing clues about how subsequent arthropods' legs may have evolved from the dozens of stubby flaps used to propel this beast through the water.

4 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. Aegirocassis Benmoulae? by Guy+From+V · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is the most "Why not Zoidberg" scenario ever.

  2. More importantly by OzPeter · · Score: 5, Funny

    For a short time I was the youngest person on earth.

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  3. Re:I've got your by pecosdave · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, the NFL is full of them.

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  4. Re:Wonder how they find such things by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Keep reading this kind of stories. But I wonder how the scientists come to a conclusion, about newer species and all the evolution that might have happened, and make people believe it... just based on theories.

    1. You misunderstand what a theory is.

    2. The current theory is testable, based on observations and hypotheses, and will be altered as evidence requires. It's certainly better than "God did it", which is not testable, has no observational basis, and the proponents refuse to alter their beliefs based on evidence to the contrary.

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