Arachnites

/ˌærəkˈnaɪtiz/ noun

Definition

Fossilized remains or impressions of ancient spiders or spider-like creatures preserved in rock.

Etymology

From Greek 'arachne' (spider) + '-ites' (suffix for fossils or rocks). A paleontological term for spider fossils dating back hundreds of millions of years.

Kelly Says

Arachnites show that spiders have looked almost identical for 300 million years—they were already perfected predators when dinosaurs roamed the Earth!

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