Pulmonoscorpius kirktonensis

Pulmonoscorpius kirktonensis is a giant, extinct species of scorpion that lived during the Visean epoch of the Carboniferous. Its fossils were found at East Kirkton, West Lothian in Scotland.

The Animal
In life, this monstrous species would have grown to be up to 1 meter in length, and bore a superficial similarity to smaller, modern scorpions. Pulmonoscorpius was thought to have reached such a large size because of the higher atmospheric oxygen content in the Carboniferous. This was 35%, whereas today's is only 20%. It is believed to be a diurnal (hunted during the day) hunter because of the presence of relatively large lateral compound eyes, which have atrophied in the primarily nocturnal modern scorpions. As with all other known scorpions, P. kirktonensis is assumed to have been a predator. However, because the stinger was comparatively much larger than its chelae, it probably used its venom to subdue, and possibly begin digestion of its prey, rather than seizing and tearing it apart with its chelae. It is, due to its large size, thought to have eaten small tetrapods such as Westlothiana.