Even for a desert, the Nefud is nearly bone-dry. Only about an inch of water falls onto the red, sandy soil in northern Saudi Arabia over the course of a year.
But 85,000 years ago, hippos roamed the Nefud.
At that time, heavy, monsoonal downpo…
Category: Fossils
Scientists have discovered spiders with tails because nightmares are real
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Around 100 million years ago, oozing tree sap poured over hundreds of tiny spiders, killing and preserving the critters in hardened amber.
Recently, miners in northern Burma pulled this ancient amber out of a quarry. Chunks of it were purchased by paleontologists, who found in the amber many well-preserved spiders — some of them with long, almost scorpion-like tails. Yes, tails.
After closely scrutinizing the critters, scientists have determined they’re likely a sort of proto-spider, not quite a proper arachnid, but a bridge between today’s eight-legged insect-hunters and a more primitive species. Read more…
More about Science, Spiders, Evolution, Fossils, and Tails
View More Scientists have discovered spiders with tails because nightmares are realThis new species of brittle star lived 435 million years ago
Scientists say the fossilized remains of a brittle star that lived 435 million years ago belong to a new species.
The fossil was named Crepidosoma doyleii, after the paleontologist who discovered it. Eamon Doyle was a Ph.D. student when he disc…