Exotic Harvestmen Once Lived in Europe: 35-Million-Year-Old Secrets Trapped in Amber
A German-Bulgarian research team has identified a new species of "exotic" harvestman in 35-million-year-old amber, revealing that these unique arachnids once thrived in Europe before their modern relatives became restricted to other continents.
Paleontology often relies on rare strokes of luck, and the discovery of a perfectly preserved arachnid in a drop of prehistoric tree resin is exactly that. Led by Dr. Christian Bartel from the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology (SNSB), researchers have described a previously unknown species of harvestman found in Ukrainian and Baltic amber.
A Masterpiece of Ornamentation
The newly discovered species belongs to the subfamily Ortholasmatinae. These harvestmen are famous among biologists for their bizarre and highly ornate appearance. Their bodies are covered in complex, lattice-like structures and fine ridges, giving them a "decorated" look that is unique among arachnids.
To study the specimen without damaging the fragile amber, the team utilized advanced technology at the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg. Using high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans, they were able to reconstruct a three-dimensional model of the creature, revealing a net-like pattern of ridges on its head and body that had been hidden for millions of years.
A Disappearing Act
The most surprising aspect of the discovery is the location. Today, members of the Ortholasmatinae subfamily are completely absent from Europe. Their modern descendants are found only in specific regions of East Asia and North and Central America.
"The discovery of an ortholasmatine harvestman in European amber deposits surprised us," says Dr. Christian Bartel. "It proves that during the Eocene epoch, approximately 35 million years ago, these animals were much more widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere than they are today."
Bridging the Gap: Ukraine and the Baltic
The research also highlights the similarities between different amber deposits. By finding the same or closely related species in both Baltic amber and the Rovno amber of Ukraine, scientists can confirm that the ecosystems of these two regions were very similar during the Eocene.
This find brings the total number of known harvestman species from Baltic amber to 19, while the Ukrainian deposits now count seven. It serves as a reminder of how much the Earth's biodiversity has shifted over millions of years due to climate change and geological shifts.
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