Scientists in China, Inner Mongolia found a new spider fossil, this new species called Nephila jurassica, a 165 million-year-old golden orb weaver whose legs spanned an astonishing 15cm – setting the new world record for the Largest Fossil Spider.
The previous record was a Guinness world record for the oldest fossil spider trapped in amber has been dated at 125-135 million years old. It is from the family linyphiidae, and was discovered in Lebanon and analysed by David Penney and Paul Selden (both from University of Manchester, UK).