Daddy Longlegs Used To Be Even More Terrifying

Posted: April 16, 2014 in Geeky
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New fossil shows that the primitive arachnids had an extra set of eyes. Cue heebie-jeebies.

Harvestmen (better known as daddy longlegs) are classified as arachnids and have just one set of eyes.

Harvestmen (better known as daddy longlegs) are classified as arachnids and have just one set of eyes.

sirichai_raksue/sirichai_raksue

But a new 305-million-year-old fossil found in France shows that these ancient arachnids had four eyes, according to new research published in Current Biology.

But a new 305-million-year-old fossil found in France shows that these ancient arachnids had four eyes, according to new research published in Current Biology .

(Merciless teasing from other arachnids was not reported.)

Lightwriter1949/Lightwriter1949

Arachnids can have two different kinds of eyes either on the side (lateral) or toward the middle (median) of the body.

Arachnids can have two different kinds of eyes either on the side (lateral) or toward the middle (median) of the body.

images2.newscred.com

The new harvestman fossil, shown here in a high-resolution x-ray, has both.

The new harvestman fossil, shown here in a high-resolution x-ray, has both.

Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle

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