science
Fossil study links 518-million-year-old sea creature to spider fang evolution
Archived — last updated
A newly discovered 518-million-year-old sea creature’s fossilized jaws may have triggered the evolutionary path leading to modern spider fangs. Researchers say the finding bridges a 250-million-year gap in arachnid fossil records.
Latest updates
Fossil study links 518-million-year-old sea creature to spider fang evolution
Palaeontologists at the University of Cambridge identified a tiny sea creature, *Kerygmachela*, whose jaw structure resembles early spider fangs. Published in *Nature Ecology & Evolution*, the study analyzed 518-million-year-old fossils from Greenland. The creature’s dual-jointed jaws suggest a shared ancestry with modern arachnids. The research fills a critical gap between marine arthropods and terrestrial spiders. No direct descendants of *Kerygmachela* survive today.
Tiny sea creature from 518 million years ago may have evolved into spider fangs
Paleontologists have identified *Kodymirus*, a tiny sea creature that lived 518 million years ago, as a likely ancestor of spider fangs. The discovery, published in a peer-reviewed journal, suggests that the creature’s appendages may have evolved into the fangs used by modern spiders to inject venom. Researchers analyzed fossilized remains from the Cambrian period, noting structural similarities between *Kodymirus* and early arachnids. This finding challenges previous theories about the origins of spider fangs and provides new evidence for the gradual evolution of venom-delivery systems in arachnids. The study was conducted by an international team of scientists using advanced imaging techniques to examine the fossils.
Sources
AI-assisted summary of the reporting above. Quotes are kept to one sentence. Copyright concern? See our DMCA takedown page.