They are significantly harder than in modern arthropods. This is due to the fact that the exoskeletons of ancient arthropods were typically made of chitin, a long-chain molecule made of sugar and protein. (found in the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons of insects, crustaceans, and other arthropods). Chitin is a natural polymer a much harder material than the exoskeletons of modern arthropods, which are typically made of chitin and protein.
One of the largest ancient arthropod exoskeletons found to date are those of the millipede-like creature Pulmonoscorpius kirktonensis, which could reach up to 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) in length. But Some of the largest known arthropods could have had exoskeletons quite larger.
Chitin is a tough, insoluble material and therefore difficult to break. The average force required to break chitin is reported to be around 4,000 newtons. which would be enough to snap a human spine in half.
daysofbreeze t1_itoyb4u wrote
Reply to How hard were ancient arthropod exoskeletons? by TrillCozbey
They are significantly harder than in modern arthropods. This is due to the fact that the exoskeletons of ancient arthropods were typically made of chitin, a long-chain molecule made of sugar and protein. (found in the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons of insects, crustaceans, and other arthropods). Chitin is a natural polymer a much harder material than the exoskeletons of modern arthropods, which are typically made of chitin and protein.
One of the largest ancient arthropod exoskeletons found to date are those of the millipede-like creature Pulmonoscorpius kirktonensis, which could reach up to 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) in length. But Some of the largest known arthropods could have had exoskeletons quite larger.
Chitin is a tough, insoluble material and therefore difficult to break. The average force required to break chitin is reported to be around 4,000 newtons. which would be enough to snap a human spine in half.