Why some prehistoric giants were less scary than they look
In short: While the idea of giant insects and massive millipedes sounds like a nightmare, many of Earth's extinct megafauna were actually quite docile. This video explores the difference between creatures that were merely intimidating and those that were truly dangerous.
The video examines the Arthropleura, a millipede that reached lengths of about 2.6 meters. Despite its imposing size, it was primarily a vegetarian and mostly blind, meaning it likely would have only reacted if provoked. Similarly, the Meganeura was an eagle-sized dragonfly; while its scale was massive, it posed no threat to humans, only to prehistoric mosquitoes.
The content distinguishes between these 'scary' but harmless giants and the genuinely dangerous predators of the past, providing context on how size doesn't always equate to threat.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Creatures You'll Be Happy That Are Extinct
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