An orb-weaver spider (Araneae, Araneidae) from the early Eocene of India

Abstract

A new fossil spider is described from the early Eocene (Ypresian) Palana Formation (54 to 57 Ma) at the Gurha opencast lignite mine, near Bikaner, western Rajasthan, India. It is the first report of a nonamber fossil spider from India. The fossil is referred to the modern genusNephilaLeach, 1815, but with hesitation because, while its habitus is similar to that genus, it lacks the behavioral synapomorphies that distinguish the genus.

First two cockroaches from the early Eocene of western Rajasthan, India (Insecta: Blattodea)

“…Shukla et al (2014) already indicated the presence of insects from this mine. Patel et al (2019a) recently described an orb-weaver spider (Araneae, Araneidae) and report only insects like Formica sp., mayfly naiad, etc. (Patel et al, 2019b) from the same formation, otherwise known for their fossil pollen, leaves, flowers, fruits, (Shukla et al, 2014;Shukla & Mehrotra, 2019).…”