What was Earth like in the age of giant insects

Welcome to the Carboniferous period. Why were insects so enormous during this time? What role did oxygen play? Why did these insects look like this? Over 300 million years ago, before the age of giant dinosaurs, Earth was covered with giant insects. Imagine a world where dragonflies are the size of crows and millipedes are as long as cars. Large swamps and warm, humid forests dominated the landscape during the Carboniferous period, which was one of the most transformative in Earth's history. Giant insects weren't the only enormous creatures roaming the planet; there was also a vast array of other enormous creatures.

variety of aquatic life, including primitive sharks and a massive amphibian that could grow to be six feet long. Enough talking If we were to go back 300 million years and enter the Carboniferous era, the first thing you would likely notice are the enormous, insect-like creatures. One of the most famous was the Meganeura, an insect that looked like a modern-day dragonfly with a major twist. Its wingspan could reach up to 75 centimeters, which makes it even more terrifying even though it was carnivorous and hunted down other insects and small amphibians. Fortunately, it didn't come for you. Meanwhile, on land, there was the arthroplura, a millipede-like creature that could grow up to two

It's fortunate that it didn't pursue you, preferring to eat decaying vegetation. However, before we get any further into our discussion of these enormous insects, let's not forget about the ecosystems of our planet and how crucial it is to protect them. Stay tuned until the end of the video to see an inspiring project from the people at Planet Wild. Another terrifying insect was the pulmon of Scorpius, a giant scorpion that lived mostly in the swampy areas of Earth. It could grow up to 70 centimeters in length. Other notable insects included giant cockroaches that reached 10 centimeters and mayflies with 45 centimeter wingspan.

Look out for these insects when you're wandering around during this time period, but how did these insects get so big? Well, you may have noticed that, as you've been around during the Carboniferous age, you feel a lot more energetic and alert, maybe you've had an easier time running around. This is because, according to research, atmospheric oxygen levels were as high as 35 percent during this period compared to the 21 percent we breathe today. Oxygen was one of the key factors in the gigantism found in insects at the time, but why would this make them so giant insects to breathe differently than other creatures?

transport oxygen instead of delivering it directly to their tissues through a network of microscopic tubes called trachea. These insects get larger in response to atmospheric oxygen levels, but there may be other factors at play as well. One theory contends that oxygen toxicity caused the insects to grow to such a size. Yes, even though oxygen is a wonderful substance, having too much of it in your body can lead to the unstable molecules known as free radicals, which can harm your cells and even cause death. that's because of the extensive

experience oxygen poisoning While insects were undoubtedly the stars of this era, other things also underwent significant change. Growing larger would slow down the rate of oxygen absorption, making it harder to suffer from too much oxygen, and the same could happen to you the longer you hang out in this period the higher oxygen levels will cause you to experience nausea respiratory issues and even some effects on your nervous system.