Fossil Provides Glimpse into Origins of Spiders

Scientists have discovered a well-preserved 305 million-year-old arachnid that is "almost a spider" in France, NPR reported. In a new journal article, they say the fossil sheds some light on the origins of "true" spiders.

 

The main point of distinction: This newly discovered arachnid very likely could produce silk but lacked the spinnerets used by true spiders to, well, spin it, the scientists say. The researchers say it belongs to a "sister group" to the real-deal spiders.

 

The species, which they described in a new article in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, is named Idmonarachne brasieri. That's after Idmon, the father of Arachne in Greco-Roman mythology. Appropriately, Arachne was a master weaver who was transformed into a spider.

 

Source: NPR