Harvestmen are some of the strangest arachnids on our planet. They’ve been around for millions of years, and a new species has been discovered in two amber samples that are 35 million years old. These samples come from Ukraine and the Baltic region.
The species, called Balticolasma wunderlichi, is part of a group known as Ortholasmatinae. Interestingly, harvestmen from this group no longer exist in modern Europe. This discovery reveals that they were once widespread during the late Eocene, when northern Europe was warm and likely humid.
Christian Bartel, a paleontologist at the Bavarian State Collections of Natural History, expressed surprise at finding an Ortholasmatinae in European amber. “Relatives of these animals are currently found only in East Asia and the Americas,” he explained. This suggests that 35 million years ago, these creatures roamed more widely across the Northern Hemisphere than they do now.
The researchers used advanced imaging techniques, including light microscopy and CT scans, to examine the specimens in detail. This allowed them to uncover intricate features of the arachnid, such as ridges on its back, unique patterns on its head, and the length of its legs—especially the second pair, which is much longer than the others.
The two amber specimens were collected from different locations. The Baltic amber is male, while the Rovno amber from Ukraine is female. During the Eocene, the areas between the Baltic and Black Seas had a much warmer, possibly subtropical climate.
This discovery adds to the existing knowledge of harvestman species in these regions, bringing the total to six in Baltic amber and seven in Rovno amber. Paleontologist Jason Dunlop stated, “Baltic amber is famous for its fossil diversity, revealing species that are no longer found in Europe. The new species underscores how similar the faunas were across these regions back then.”
These fossils are the first of the Ortholasmatinae ever identified. They promise to enhance our understanding of harvestman evolution and migration paths. However, the researchers caution that more fossil discoveries are needed to fully understand the history of this ancient group.
This unique find fills a large gap in our understanding of harvestmen’s global distribution, especially since modern relatives are limited to East Asia and North America. It highlights the importance of continuing to explore amber deposits and other fossil sites to unveil the mysteries of past ecosystems.
The research is detailed in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.
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