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310-million-year-old fossil of ancient spider species found in Germany
Summary
A 310-315 million year old fossil of a previously unknown species of spider has been discovered in Germany. It is the first time a Palaeozoic-era "true spider" species has been discovered in Germany and has been named Arthrolycosa wolterbeeki after its discoverer, Tim Wolterbeek. The fossil was identified due to its spinneret, a distinguishing feature of true spiders, and is one of only 12 known Carboniferous species. The results of the finding were published in the journal PalZ.
Q&As
What is the name of the new spider species that was discovered in Germany?
The new spider species is called Arthrolycosa wolterbeeki.
How old is the fossil of the ancient spider species?
The fossil of the ancient spider species is 310 to 315 million years old.
What distinguishing feature led to the identification of the species?
The key trait that led to the identification was the presence of a well-preserved spinneret (silk-producing organ).
What is the name of the expert who examined the fossil specimen?
The expert who examined the fossil specimen is Jason Dunlop of the Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin.
How many Carboniferous spider species have been discovered to date?
There have been 12 known Carboniferous spider species discovered to date.
AI Comments
👍 It's amazing to think that this spider species has been around for 310-million years! This discovery is a great reminder of the amazing things that can be found when exploring the natural world.
👎 This discovery is concerning because it is indicative of how little we know about the natural world and how much we still have to learn.
AI Discussion
Me: It's about a 310 million year old fossil of an ancient spider species that was found in Germany. The species has been named Arthrolycosa wolterbeeki.
Friend: Wow, that's incredible. It's amazing to think that this species has been around for so long.
Me: Yeah, it is. It's a reminder of the immense diversity of life on Earth and how much we still don't know about it. It's also a great opportunity for scientists to study the evolution of spiders and gain a better understanding of the history of life on our planet.
Action items
- Research the other 11 Carboniferous spider species to gain a better understanding of the diversity of spiders during this period.
- Explore the potential of organ-on-a-chip technology to revolutionize biomedical research.
- Learn more about the engineering challenges of harnessing our oceans to remove CO2 and the potential of nuclear fusion.
Technical terms
- Arthrolycosa wolterbeeki
- The name given to the new species of spider discovered in Germany.
- Palaeozoic-aged strata
- Rock layers from the Palaeozoic era, which dates back 310 to 315 million years.
- Spinneret
- A silk-producing organ found in true spiders.
- Araneae order
- The order of arachnids that includes eight-legged venomous spiders.
- PalZ
- The journal in which the results of the discovery were published.