The largest spider fossil in Australian history has been found in New South Wales, which may help us understand the animal’s evolution.

In 2017, paleontologists from the Australian Museum and the University of New South Wales excavated the site containing ancient remains in central New South Wales.

Here researchers found remains 11-16 million years old, which turned out to be the fossil of Australia’s largest spider to date, he writes. Interesting geometry. The newly identified species are A Megamodontium McCloskey It was named and it was the result Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society The scientific journal reported.

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The researchers examined the fossil using an overlay microscopic imaging method. Thanks to this, it was possible to reveal previously invisible anatomical features of the discovery. Michael Freese, a researcher at the University of Canberra, said scanning electron microscopy allowed him to study the fine details of the claws and stumps on the spider’s feet, legs and body. Not only were these able to protect the animal, but they could also be used to make sound.

It turns out that the structure of the fossilized spider is very similar to those living today monodontium With nationality.

However, the ancient spider was probably five times larger than its living counterparts.

Members of this genus can now be found in humid forests from Singapore to Papua New Guinea. This suggests that Australia may have been like this in the past, even before it became so desertified.

The result is also very interesting because so far only four spider fossils have been found in Australia, making it difficult to understand their evolution. However, the new discovery could make a significant contribution to this matter.

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