A unique arachnid belonging to the order Solifugae (solfugi) has been delivered to the Museum of Inclusion in Amber at the University of Gdansk. It is the third specimen found in the world and only the second species described from Eocene resin – Baltic amber. The museum’s collection already numbers more than 17,000 inclusions.

The new acquisition of the Gdańsk museum was obtained from a private collector. It is in the shape of a rectangular piece of amber measuring 24 × 33 mm. The arachnid is almost complete, although the dorsal surface is partly obscured by detritus and air bubbles, making it somewhat difficult to photograph.

“It is difficult to explain to oneself why a desert arachnid in Eocene resin is associated with humid forest, but solfuges are also found in steppe areas. The fact is that they had little chance of falling into a resin trap and this explains their uniqueness”, says Dr Elizabeth Sontag of the university’s museum.

Read more: https://ug.edu.pl/news/pl/5735/pustynny-pajeczak-unikatowa-w-skali-swiata-skamienialosc-na-wb-ug