Two new spiders, Quamtana huberi new species (Pholcidae) and Selenops sp. indet. (Selenopidae), are described from Lowermost Eocene (Ypresian) amber from Le Quesnoy, Oise department, Paris Basin, France. Both specimens represent the oldest known fossils of their respective families. This is the first fossil record of the extant genus Quamtana, extending its known geological range by 53 Mega-annums (Ma). The known geological age of Pholcidae is extended by approximately 5–10 Ma from that of its previous oldest occurrence in Baltic amber. The known age of Selenopidae and the extant genus Selenops are extended by approximately 30 Ma, from their previous oldest occurrence in Dominican Republic amber. The distribution of extant species from these genera suggests the inclusions in amber from the Paris deposit have close affinities with the African fauna.
Translator Disclaimer
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
French amber
new species
paleontology
Pholcidae
Quamtana
Selenopidae
Selenops