Credit: Paul SeldenDouglassarachne acanthopoda, a 308-million-year-old arachnid with spiny legs, was discovered in Illinois Mazon Creek locality. “This compact arachnid had a body length of about 1.5 centimeters and is defined by its spiny and incredibly robust legs– such that it is quite unlike any other arachnid known, living or extinct.” Evolutionary Significance and MysteryThe KU scientist stated Carboniferous Coal Measures are a crucial source of details for fossil arachnids, representing the first time in Earths history when most living groups of arachnids occurred together. Whatever their evolutionary affinities, these spiny arachnids appear to come from a time when arachnids were experimenting with a variety of various body plans.
“This compact arachnid had a body length of about 1.5 centimeters and is identified by its remarkably robust and spiny legs– such that it is rather unlike any other arachnid understood, living or extinct.” Evolutionary Significance and MysteryThe KU scientist said Carboniferous Coal Measures are an important source of information for fossil arachnids, representing the very first time in Earths history when most living groups of arachnids occurred together. Whatever their evolutionary affinities, these spiny arachnids appear to come from a time when arachnids were exploring with a range of various body strategies.