| Brontoscorpio Temporal range: Early Devonian | |
|---|---|
| |
| A restoration of Brontoscorpio anglicus preying upon a Hughmilleri norvegica and a Hemiaspis limuloides crawls on the back of Brontoscorpio anglicus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | †Eoscorpiidae |
| Genus: | †Brontoscorpio Kjellesvig-Waering, 1972 |
| Species: | †B. anglicus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Brontoscorpio anglicus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1972 | |
Brontoscorpio (meaning “thunder scorpion”) was an extinct genus of scorpion from the early Devonian period. It is known by very fragmentary remains including right frontal claw. Based on this claw, the animal's size is estimated to be around 90 cm in length, making it one of the largest scorpions of all time.
Paleobiology[]
Like all scorpions, they were likely able to absorb oxygen into the blood straight from their lungs with no exhalation, and this allowed them to breathe in the air and underwater.
Paleoecology[]
At the beginning of the Devonian, Brontoscorpio was likely the largest land predator, preying on myriapods and smaller scorpions. Although the only specimen was found in terrestrial sediments, the scorpion likely spent part of its time in water due to its enormous size.
In the Media[]
Walking with Monsters[]
Brontoscorpio in Walking with Monsters
Brontoscorpio appeared in the first episode of Walking with Monsters called "Water Dwellers". One was seen chasing a Cephalaspis. It chased another Cephalaspis but was killed by a mother Pterygotus which fed it to her young. When a large shoal of Cephalaspis swam to its spawning ground further inland, a group of lucky Brontoscorpio came onto land to kill them. Several Cephalaspis were stung and killed. One Brontoscorpio couldn't feed because it had to shed its skin instead - a process that took it all day. When next morning it finished moulting, the Cephalaspis were gone. The Brontoscorpio had missed its chance.
There are many controversial and erroneous aspects associated with Brontoscorpio in this program. Despite the fact that it could spend part of its time in water, it is unlikely that it had gills in addition to lungs, since the oldest scorpions already lacked them. The eyes of Brontoscorpio are too large and very reminiscent of the eyes of eurypterids. Such large eyes are unknown in any arachnids. Moreover, several earliest scorpions like Palaeophonus were probably blind. The additional pair of claws is also speculative. In the series, Brontoscorpio are shown living in groups, which is also doubtful, since the vast majority of arachnids are solitary animals.
Brontoscorpio in Primeval: New World
- Brontoscorpio also appeared in the penultimate and final episodes of Primeval: New World. One came through an Anomaly and killed a volleyball player. It later stung Toby Nance. Evan Cross and Dylan Weir had to travel through the Anomaly to retrieve a venom sample to create an anti-venom for Toby. Evan sliced the stinger off and Dylan returned to the present whilst Evan remained trapped. The scientists at Project Magnet later made an anti-venom.
- Several oversized Brontoscorpios appear in Dino King: Journey To Fire Mountain. In reality, Brontoscorpios were 99 cm in length and lived in the Silurian.