Protòtaxites: The First Biological Lightning Target of Early Terrestrial Ecosystems

Protòtaxites, the tallest known terrestrial macro-organism of the Silurian–Devonian periods, reached heights up to 8 m in flat, storm-prone landscapes dominated by low vegetation. Based on its size, water-rich tubular structure, and environmental context, Protòtaxites would have been the primary biological target of lightning on land. Its vertically continuous, ion-rich internal water column also means Protòtaxites would have behaved physically as a natural or- ganic battery capable of accumulating and redistributing electrical charge during storms. This paper presents a physics-based analysis of lightning interactions with early terrestrial organ- isms, demonstrating that Protòtaxites’ morphology and ecology made it uniquely exposed to electrical discharges—an overlooked factor that may have contributed to its ecological persis- tence.