What's New! Prehistoric sea scorpion fossils have been found in the South China Sea

Recently, a team of researchers discovered a fossil of a sea scorpion about 3 feet long.

The order Mixed-winged is the most striking of the broad-winged order (sea scorpions) and is known for its large limbs for catching prey. According to an article in Science Bulletin, their limbs are often referred to as "receiving baskets." It may also be the top marine predator of the Silurians, a geological period that began 443.8 million years ago and ended 419.2 million years ago.

Researchers have found fossils of the oldest mixed-wing dinosaurs, further advancing the understanding of the species. Researcher Wang Bo said that the sea scorpion is a male with a thorny beard in front of the body to attract females.

According to the Ph.D. at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the discoveries have raised awareness of the differences between the various mixed-winged dinosaurs and where they are found around the globe. Prior to this, only four species of leprechauncula had been found, all of which were found in the Paleocene during the Silurian period.

Researchers have discovered a mixed-wing dinosaur called Terropterus xiushanensis in the Lower Silorian Period, but this was the first mixed-wing dinosaur to be found in Gondwana, an ancient supercontinent that stretched from present-day Australia to North and South America.

These predators are characterized by particularly large heads, unique rotating structures and special limb features, which differ from other hybrid winged animals. Wang Han said this shows that their limbs are different from those of their ancestors, but have changed independently over time.