Well, they USED to be real. That's a Eureypterid, a group of Chelicerates from the Devonian (?) that were the first, or among the first, animals to leave the sea and venture onto dry land.
This one is from a TV show starring that Nigel guy, I believe.
Saw one of those shows, thought it was pretty awful, really. I agree with the grouchy scientist from the BBC article. I am glad that I'm not about to encounter one of those monsters on my next vacation, tho.
As others have said, not currently living, but it did exist in the Devonian period. I've actually helped dig up fossils of these guys and their friends :)
FWIW, I loved the Most Dangerous Seas miniseries -- it was more aimed at 8-12 yos, to dramatize (lightly) just how awesome these ancient monsters were.
Also I give Nigel Marven a big pass because he's got the Ugly Overload attitude in spades. :-)
I also agree with Dawkins on this one, but the thing that bugs me so much is that THIS COULD BE SUCH AN AWESOME SHOW!!!
January 19, 2008
Anonymous said...
Its commonly called a sea scorpion. Animal Planet has a few specials with current naturalists "going back in time" to film ancient animals as a documentary. Theres one with Jeff Corwin thats been aired a few times lately as well as this one with Nigel. The animals are all CGI and models though.
January 20, 2008
Anonymous said...
It's...so...Beautiful...I want one... I'd keep it in a big tank and feed it pieces of chicken or something...
P.S. Technically, this world hasn't spawned crustaceans like those. They're chelicerates. :D
13 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formWell, they USED to be real. That's a Eureypterid, a group of Chelicerates from the Devonian (?) that were the first, or among the first, animals to leave the sea and venture onto dry land.
This one is from a TV show starring that Nigel guy, I believe.
January 18, 2008
OH. MY. GOD.
January 18, 2008
this article looks like it's referring to the same beast: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3247691.stm
January 18, 2008
Saw one of those shows, thought it was pretty awful, really. I agree with the grouchy scientist from the BBC article. I am glad that I'm not about to encounter one of those monsters on my next vacation, tho.
January 18, 2008
Yep, that's a computer-generated eurypterid. Only a little fella, though - the really big ones reached in excess of two metres.
January 18, 2008
I bet it's real.
January 18, 2008
As others have said, not currently living, but it did exist in the Devonian period. I've actually helped dig up fossils of these guys and their friends :)
January 18, 2008
We'd better awaken Godzilla, just to be safe.
January 19, 2008
FWIW, I loved the Most Dangerous Seas miniseries -- it was more aimed at 8-12 yos, to dramatize (lightly) just how awesome these ancient monsters were.
Also I give Nigel Marven a big pass because he's got the Ugly Overload attitude in spades. :-)
January 19, 2008
I also agree with Dawkins on this one, but the thing that bugs me so much is that THIS COULD BE SUCH AN AWESOME SHOW!!!
January 19, 2008
Its commonly called a sea scorpion. Animal Planet has a few specials with current naturalists "going back in time" to film ancient animals as a documentary. Theres one with Jeff Corwin thats been aired a few times lately as well as this one with Nigel. The animals are all CGI and models though.
January 20, 2008
It's...so...Beautiful...I want one...
I'd keep it in a big tank and feed it pieces of chicken or something...
P.S. Technically, this world hasn't spawned crustaceans like those. They're chelicerates. :D
April 07, 2008
looks like another lobstrosity to me, heh. I thought it looked pretty prehistoric, tho. ^^
September 20, 2008