How Bizarre Paleontology

Sea scorpions slashed victims with swordlike tails

New fossil suggests the body part was used for fighting, swimming

sea scorpion illustration

EN GARDE!  Ancient sea scorpions (one illustrated) may have used serrated, swordlike tails for swimming or as weaponry.

NATHAN ROGERS

By Helen Thompson

- More than 2 years ago

Ancient sea scorpions were hacks.

Some of the marine creatures had a thin, serrated spine on the tip of their tail — and that tail was surprisingly flexible, based on a 430-million-year-old fossil found in Scotland.