Paleontologists working in the Canning Basin of Western Australia have unearthed the fossilized exoskeleton of a previously unknown species of eurypterid, or sea scorpion. Dating back to the Late Ordovician period, approximately 450 million years ago, this new species, named Pterygotus australis, is estimated to have reached lengths of over 2.5 meters, making it one of the largest arthropods ever to exist.
The fossils are exceptionally well-preserved, showing intricate details of the creature's swimming paddles and massive raptorial claws used for hunting early jawless fish. This discovery provides critical evidence that giant marine predators were more geographically widespread during the Ordovician than previously thought. The Canning Basin site is now being considered for protected status as it contains a unique record of ancient marine biodiversity.