Arthropleura

Arthropleura, from Ancient Greek ἄρθρον (árthron), meaning "joint", and πλευρά (pleurá), meaning "rib", is an extinct genus of massive myriapod that lived in what is now Europe and North America around 344 to 292 million years ago, from the Viséan stage of the lower Carboniferous period to the Sakmarian stage of the lower Permian period. It is a millipede, and was capable of reaching at least 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in length, possibly up to over 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in), making it the largest known land arthropod of all time. Arthropleura is known from body fossils as well as trace fossils, particularly giant trackways up to 50 centimetres (20 in) wide, and potentially also large burrows. It lived in open, sparsely wooded environments near water, and was possibly amphibious.