22 Dec 2021

Giant millipede fossil found in Northumberland

From Morning Report, 8:57 am on 22 December 2021

Scientists say they have discovered the largest-ever fossil of a giant millipede on a beach in Northumberland in England, totally by chance.

The millipede, known as Arthropleura, is thought to have been more than 2.5 metres long, and would've weighed about 50 kilograms.

It is thought to have lived 326 million years ago.

University of Cambridge Department of Earth Sciences lecturer Dr Neil Davies has been analysing the fossil.

He spoke to Morning Report.