Biggest ever spider fossil found in Mongolia
April 21st, 2011 - 12:55 am ICT by Aishwarya BhattUlaanbaatar, April 20 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Archaeologists have found the biggest prehistoric spider fossil in Inner Mongolia. The creature was well preserved and scientists have been able to determine even the minute details of the animal.
Scientists estimate that the fossil is about 165 million years old. The animal which has been named Nephila jurassica is believed to have lived in the jungles of China. Scientists say the Chinese forest was much warmer then than it currently is today. The discovery which was made by a team of researchers led by a paleontologist from Kansas University, Prof Paul Selden, has been published in the journal Biology Letters.
The insect has been identified as one of the giant-growing Golden Orb Weavers. The well-preserved nature of the insect made its identification easier for the scientists. The Golden Orb Weavers are still available today and they are known to create the distinct web made of yellow silk.
The creatures are one of the biggest spiders known to mankind. They can grow to be the size of the human hand. Their female species are known to be the biggest spider among the family that is known to weave webs.
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Tags: animal scientists, archaeologists, biggest spiders, distinct web, female species, fossil, golden orb weavers, inner mongolia, insect, journal biology, jungles, kansas university, mankind, million years, minute details, mongolia ulaanbaatar, paleontologist, prof paul, selden, yellow silk