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Study Reveals Spiders' Ancient Marine Ancestry Surprising Origins

7/28/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking study in Current Biology uncovers that spiders and scorpions may trace their roots back to ancient marine ancestors, not land-dwellers. By examining the 500-million-year-old fossil Mollisonia symmetrica, researchers discovered a neural structure strikingly similar to modern arachnids, reshaping our understanding of their evolutionary journey from ocean to land.

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Story summary

A groundbreaking study in Current Biology uncovers that spiders and scorpions may trace their roots back to ancient marine ancestors, not land-dwellers. By examining the 500-million-year-old fossil Mollisonia symmetrica, researchers discovered a neural structure strikingly similar to modern arachnids, reshaping our understanding of their evolutionary journey from ocean to land.