Scientists Discover 35-Million-Year-Old Arachnid Species in Amber
A new species of arachnid, Balticolasma wunderlichi, has been discovered in 35-million-year-old amber specimens from Ukraine and the Baltic region. This species belongs to the Ortholasmatinae subfamily, which is extinct in modern Europe. The discovery was made by a team led by Christian Bartel from the Bavarian State Collections of Natural History. The specimens were imaged using light microscopy and computed tomography, revealing intricate details such as ornate ridges and lattice-like patterns. The male specimen was found in Baltic amber, while the female was discovered in Rovno amber from northwest Ukraine. This finding marks the first fossil representatives of Ortholasmatinae, indicating a wider historical distribution across the Northern Hemisphere during the Eocene epoch. 
