The Silurian may have introduced the largest scorpian that ever lived, but it also introduced one of the biggest arthropods to ever exist-the giant Pterygotus. Growing to almost the size of a modern crocodile, this titan of sea scorpians was a horror to anything in the seas, hunting whatever it could get its claws on.

Basic info

Meaning of name: Pterygotus means "winged one".

Time of existence: Pterygotus lived during the Silurian, beginning to appear about 418 million years ago.

Diet: Pterygotus was a carnivore, and one of the top predators of the Silurian sea. They were ambush hunters, and would hide under the sand to appear invisible to its prey. While some of its prey, like Cephalaspis, could detect it, others like Brontoscorpio, could not. Their primary prey was the fish and scorpions that lived in the sea.

Threats: Pterygotus was not in danger from most of the creatures in the Silurian. However, it possibly was prey for orthocones.

Size: Pterygotus could grow to up to five feet and three inches.

Attributes: As mentioned before, Pterygotus was an ambush hunter, and hid itself under the sand to hide from prey. It also cared for its young, something few arthropods did. Its claws were strong enough to pick up almost any animal up off the ground. Pterygotus was also able to swim through the ocean as well as walk on the seabed.

Two Pterygotus swimming with some orthocones

Appearances in the Walking With... series

Walking with Monsters

Episode 1-Water Dwellers

Pterygotus briefly appears in the opening synopsis, attacking a Brontoscorpio. Three Pterygotus are briefly seen near the beginning of the Silueian segment of the episode, swimming near some orthocones.

Pterygotus attacking a Brontoscorpio

Pterygotus is then seen attacking a Brontoscorpio, with her claw emerging before uncovering herself. She uses her massive claws to kill and dismember the scorpion, before putting it on the ground for her young to feed on. She is last seen approaching the carcass to feed herself.

Pterygotus feeding her young