Discover 305 million-year-old spider fossils

A team of researchers has discovered fossils of an ancient spider that dates back to 305 million years in France. This finding will help scientists better understand the original origin of spiders today.

Picture 1 of Discover 305 million-year-old spider fossils
Fossil samples will be preserved in 3D environment.

The new spider species is named Idmonarachne brasieri . Currently, researchers have worked with the British Museum of Natural History to conduct a scan and check the fossil specimen details. Information about the origin of spiders is still limited, there is almost no documentation of the initial evolution of this species.

It is known that fossil samples will be preserved in 3D environment, allowing scientists to study and surgery in detail.

The analysis showed that the Idmonarachne brasieri had a tail structure in the lower part , also known as a whip , indicating that today's spiders have evolved and lost their tail like humans. Instead, spiders develop fangs and arthropods. An interesting thing is, the ancestors of spider species only release silk, not capable of spreading silk.

"Fossils mark a significant leap in our understanding of the evolution of arthropods," said Russell Garwood, a scientist at the Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences Research School. .