Pulmonoscorpius
| Pulmonoscorpius Temporal range: Mississippian (Viséan), | |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction of Pulmonoscorpius kirktonensis | |
| Juvenile specimen | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | †Centromachidae |
| Genus: | †Pulmonoscorpius Jeram, 1994 |
| Species: | †P. kirktonensis |
| Binomial name | |
| †Pulmonoscorpius kirktonensis Jeram, 1994 | |
Pulmonoscorpius is an extinct genus of scorpion from the Mississippian (Early Carboniferous) of Scotland. It contains a single named species, Pulmonoscorpius kirktonensis. It was one of the largest scorpions to have ever lived, with the largest known individual having an estimated length exceeding 70 cm (28 inches). Pulmonoscorpius retains several general arthropod features which are absent in modern scorpions, such as large lateral eyes and a lack of adaptations for a burrowing lifestyle. It was likely an active diurnal predator, and the presence of book lungs indicates that it was fully terrestrial.