When I was a kid, nothing grabbed my attention like talking about predators. Perhaps it was an latent instinctive adrenaline response to danger, but whether they were sharks, dinosaurs, tigers or giant robots, ferocious creatures always piqued my interest. Chances are at least a few of your students have this sort of reaction, too. These kids will be pleased to know about the Hurdia victoria, a 500-million-year-old oceanic predator that has just been discovered.
Science Daily has the scoop on this prehistoric arthropod, which looked like a giant shrimp and grew up to 1.5 feet long. That may not sound very big, but remember that arthropods include such creepy-crawlies as tarantulas, cockroaches and ants. If I saw a foot-and-a-half-long tarantula crawling toward me, I’d be plenty scared.
According to the article, scientists had been aware of separate fragments of Hurdia victoria for some time, but had variously misidentified them as sea cucumbers, jellyfish, or other oceanic arthropods. Only after combining them to form a carnivorous super-bug like an insectoid version of Devastator did scientists realize the fierce critter they had on their hands.
You can read more about Hurdia victoria at Science Daily. See if reading about this predator gets your students more interested in biology — or if it just makes you want to call an exterminator. -BILL FERRIS
Fossil Fragments Reveal 500-million-year-old Monster Predator via Science Daily
Related stuff:
Awesomeosaurus: New Carnivorous Dinosaur Discovered