Megabugs: And Other Prehistoric Critters that Roamed the Planet
For Mom and Dad H B Many thanks to Jason Peter and Tom for their invaluable insights that helped me bring to life these wonderful creatures J B ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many thanks to Dr Carsten Brauckmann from the Institute of Geology and Palaeontology at the Clausthal University of Technology for his review of the manuscript He provided many helpful suggestions to ensure the text's factual accuracy As well thank you to DoEun Kwon for her help in researching the appearances of the animals in the book
Contents INTRODUCTION HOW OLD IS EARTH THE DANGLER Aegirocassis THE SPY Isotelus THE PADDLER Eurypterus THE PINCHER Jaekelopterus THE STINGER Pulmonoscorpius THE SLITHERER Arthropleura THE FLIER Meganeuropsis GIANTS OF TODAY MEGABUGS OF THE FUTURE A NOTE ON THE ILLUSTRATIONS GLOSSARY FURTHER READING INDEX
IMAGINE DEEP IN THE JUNGLE A swift moving millipede almost twice your size slithers toward you snapping its slavering jaws Nearby a pit bull sized scorpion jabs its venom tipped tail at an unfortunate passerby Megabugs supersized insect like critters may seem like the stuff of nightmares But they once dominated our planet long before humans came on the scene They were the very real ancestors of modern day insects spiders crabs and other arthropods In this peek into prehistory you'll meet many of these horrifying creatures You'll find out how they lived You'll find out why they grew so big And you'll find out what thankfully caused their extinction Plus you'll discover some megabugs that still roam the earth today
What's an Arthropod All of the critters in this book are arthropods Today this group of animals includes INSECTS beetles ants ARACHNIDS spiders scorpions ARTHROPODS MYRIAPODS centipedes millipedes CRUSTACEANS shrimp crabs How Can You Recognize an Arthropod Arthropods are invertebrates animals without a backbone with a few telltale features SEGMENTED BODY a body with more than one part For example insect bodies have three main parts a head a thorax and an abdomen abdomen thorax head EXOSKELETON a hard outer shell outside skeleton that protects the body All arthropods molt shed their exoskeleton A new exoskeleton grows in its place JOINTED APPENDAGES at least six jointed legs arthropod means jointed foot and often two antennae for sensing their surroundings
