‘Gigantic’ scorpion fossil found in Fife

The fossilised tracks of a 330 million-year-old man-sized scorpion have been found in north east Fife.

The discovery is the largest known walking trackway of a eurypterid or any invertebrate animal.

Scottish Natural Heritage, which is funding the project, described the find as “unique” and “internationally important”.

It said the fossil would be moulded in silicone so that more people could see and research it.

Scientists said the tracks were made by a giant six-legged water scorpion called Hibbertopterus as it crawled over damp sand during the Carboniferous period.

The tracks were discovered by Dr Martin Whyte from the University of Sheffield while he was out walking.