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Ancient Creature Links Spiders to Oceanic Evolution

7/25/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking study uncovers that Mollisonia symmetrica, an ancient marine creature from over 500 million years ago, shares a closer lineage with spiders and scorpions than with horseshoe crabs. Its distinct brain structure hints at a surprising oceanic evolution of arachnids, reshaping our understanding of their origins. This fascinating research was published in Current Biology by the University of Arizona.

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Story summary

A groundbreaking study uncovers that Mollisonia symmetrica, an ancient marine creature from over 500 million years ago, shares a closer lineage with spiders and scorpions than with horseshoe crabs. Its distinct brain structure hints at a surprising oceanic evolution of arachnids, reshaping our understanding of their origins. This fascinating research was published in Current Biology by the University of Arizona.