Page 49 - The Dinosaur Book and Other Wonders of the Prehistoric World (DK-Smithsonian)
P. 49
Millipedes like
Euphoberia were some This 310-million-
of the first animals to live year-old insect used Like all early flying
entirely on dry land. its piercing mouthparts insects, Stenodictya
to suck plant sap.
flew on two pairs of wings
like those of dragonflies.
Euphoberia fossil Stenodictya Arthropod empire
The long, slender pincers Archimylacris fossil
of this scorpion are very like Living 300 million
those of the more venomous years ago, this
modern scorpions. cockroach would
have fed on decaying
plant material
on the forest floor.
Gallio fossil
A beautifully
preserved fossil
reveals dark bands
on the wings of
Lithomantis.
The long tail was
probably tipped with
a powerful stinger for
defense and killing prey. Lithomantis fossil
cockroach. They were hunted by predatory would have spent most of their lives as wingless
centipedes, early spiders, scorpions like nymphs or grubs that lived underwater or in the
Cyclophthalmus, and insects like Meganeura. ground, before emerging as winged adults. Like
The forests would have been buzzing with these modern mayflies, these may have had very short
animals, especially insects that, in an era before adult lives, but they have survived for millions of
birds, were the only animals able to fly. Many years as fossils. 47
US_046-047_Arthropod_Empire.indd 47 10/04/18 3:33 PM

