Story perspectives

New Harvestman Species Found in 35-Million-Year-Old Amber

4/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Balticolasma wunderlichi is a new harvestman species found in 35-million-year-old amber from Ukraine and the Baltic region.
The species belongs to the extinct subfamily Ortholasmatinae, previously unknown in Europe.
The discovery shows that the warm Eocene hosted harvestman distribution, with advanced imaging techniques revealing intricate fossil details.
It increases Baltic amber species to 19 and Rovno amber to seven, offering insights into evolutionary history, though further fossils are needed.

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Story summary

Balticolasma wunderlichi is a new harvestman species found in 35-million-year-old amber from Ukraine and the Baltic region.
The species belongs to the extinct subfamily Ortholasmatinae, previously unknown in Europe.
The discovery shows that the warm Eocene hosted harvestman distribution, with advanced imaging techniques revealing intricate fossil details.
It increases Baltic amber species to 19 and Rovno amber to seven, offering insights into evolutionary history, though further fossils are needed.