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Amypteride🏳️‍⚧️🔻🕷🦂

@amypteride.bsky.social

Médiatrice scientifique à Paléopolis Paleontology MSc graduate, now science educator Chelicerates lover🕷🦂❤️ & inverts>verts , all living things are beautiful❤️ #Cheliceratime is here Superman stan Elle/She🏳️‍⚧️-Fr/En All my things: https://linktr.ee/Amypteride

449 Followers  |  665 Following  |  398 Posts  |  Joined: 29.10.2023
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Posts by Amypteride🏳️‍⚧️🔻🕷🦂 (@amypteride.bsky.social)

A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el calls superman "Kal-El."

A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el calls superman "Kal-El."

A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el calls superman instead "Clark."

A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el calls superman instead "Clark."

And the single fact that he correct himself to properly call his son not by its birth name (Kal-El) that never defined him up to this point, but by the name he self-identify & uses every day with his friends and family (Clark), is just peak. That's a dad loving his child unconditionally right there.

07.03.2026 21:13 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el says to superman "my boy."

A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el says to superman "my boy."

A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el says to superman "you have turned you power into a shield to the helpless."

A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el says to superman "you have turned you power into a shield to the helpless."

A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el says to superman "you have filled your life with love."

A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el says to superman "you have filled your life with love."

A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el says to superman "You are more than I could have ever hoped for."

A screen shot of my adventures with superman when jor-el says to superman "You are more than I could have ever hoped for."

I like what Gunn did last year in Superman 2025 with Jor-El... but damn I love so much more the Jor-El from My Adventures with Superman, he is the kindest version ever of the character. Clark never being able to meet him, his own dad, outside of a kryptonian artificial intelligence is heartbreaking.

07.03.2026 21:05 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
An illustration if a spherical bodied robot rendered in dark metal with brass detailing, with a plasma canon on one arm

An illustration if a spherical bodied robot rendered in dark metal with brass detailing, with a plasma canon on one arm

My interpretation of the lethal combat robots (or ‘frobots’) from #amphibia; tools of the Newtopian Empire.

#art #fanart #illustration

07.03.2026 17:31 — 👍 308    🔁 59    💬 7    📌 2
This old world tarantula is an endemic species from India, popular for its vibrant blue coloration, and can reach 15 to 20 cm in leg span. This large tree-dwelling arachnid is among the most endangered spider species in the world.

Size: 6/7cm of body length
Time period: Holocene (present day)
Conservation status: Critically Endangered

The animal drawn is a blue tarantula spider

This old world tarantula is an endemic species from India, popular for its vibrant blue coloration, and can reach 15 to 20 cm in leg span. This large tree-dwelling arachnid is among the most endangered spider species in the world. Size: 6/7cm of body length Time period: Holocene (present day) Conservation status: Critically Endangered The animal drawn is a blue tarantula spider

What time is it? It’s #Cheliceratime!
One of my favourite spider of all time in Cheliceratime today, Poecilotheria metallica, the peacock tarantula!

All the basic infos are here but if you want to learn more, there’s waaay more below!⬇️
#spider #tarantula #india #arachnid #sciart #bugsky #invert
1/5

07.03.2026 08:05 — 👍 12    🔁 6    💬 1    📌 1

Ce que je dis toujours, y a une fracture dans la manière dont l'exil a été vécu entre les différentes catégories de la diaspora
D'un côté des royalistes qui vivent dans les beaux quartiers parisiens, regroupés au même endroit, avec des structures, des commerces, un réseau, et de l'autre côté, on est

07.03.2026 01:07 — 👍 449    🔁 305    💬 3    📌 24

It's #spidersaturday, so I wanted to talk about one of my favourite spider! :D
⬇️🕷️💙

07.03.2026 12:08 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
REFERENCES (part 1)

· Briggs E.J. & Hamilton C.A., 2024. What does the history of Theraphosidae systematics tell us about the future of tarantula taxonomy? Frontiers in Arachnid Science 3, 1445731.

· Foley S., Saranathan V. & Piel W.H., 2020. The evolution of coloration and opsins in tarantulas. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 287, 20201688, 9 pp.

· Gabriel R., 2002. Notes and Observations Regarding the Bite of Poecilotheria pederseni. British Tarantula Society Journal 17(2), p. 61–64.

· Hsiung B.-K., Deheyn D.D., Shawkey M.D. & Blackledge T.A., 2015. Blue reflectance in tarantulas is evolutionarily conserved despite nanostructural diversity. Science Advances 1, e1500709, 8 pp.

• Jocqué R. & Dippenaar-Schoeman A.S., 2007. Spider Families of the World. 2° Edition, Royal Museum of Central Africa, 336 pp.

· Kulkarni S., Wood H.M. & Hormiga G., 2023. Advances in the reconstruction of the spider tree of life: A roadmap for spider systematics and comparative studies. Cladistics 39, p. 479–532.

· Nanayakkara R., 2013. Tiger Spider of Sri Lanka; genus Poecilotheria. Loris: Journal of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka 26, p. 53-54. 

· Pocock R. I. 1899. “The Genus Poecilotheria: Its Habits, History and Species.” The Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology 3 p. 82-96.

REFERENCES (part 1) · Briggs E.J. & Hamilton C.A., 2024. What does the history of Theraphosidae systematics tell us about the future of tarantula taxonomy? Frontiers in Arachnid Science 3, 1445731. · Foley S., Saranathan V. & Piel W.H., 2020. The evolution of coloration and opsins in tarantulas. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 287, 20201688, 9 pp. · Gabriel R., 2002. Notes and Observations Regarding the Bite of Poecilotheria pederseni. British Tarantula Society Journal 17(2), p. 61–64. · Hsiung B.-K., Deheyn D.D., Shawkey M.D. & Blackledge T.A., 2015. Blue reflectance in tarantulas is evolutionarily conserved despite nanostructural diversity. Science Advances 1, e1500709, 8 pp. • Jocqué R. & Dippenaar-Schoeman A.S., 2007. Spider Families of the World. 2° Edition, Royal Museum of Central Africa, 336 pp. · Kulkarni S., Wood H.M. & Hormiga G., 2023. Advances in the reconstruction of the spider tree of life: A roadmap for spider systematics and comparative studies. Cladistics 39, p. 479–532. · Nanayakkara R., 2013. Tiger Spider of Sri Lanka; genus Poecilotheria. Loris: Journal of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka 26, p. 53-54. · Pocock R. I. 1899. “The Genus Poecilotheria: Its Habits, History and Species.” The Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology 3 p. 82-96.

REFERENCES (part 2)

· Raman K., Vimalraj S., Krishnakumar B.M., Balachandran N. & Tomar A., 2019. Range extension of the Gooty Tarantula Poecilotheria metallica (Araneae: Theraphosidae) in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 11, p. 14373–14376.

· Richards N.J., Alqallaf A., Mitchell R.D., Parnell A., Haidar H.B., Almeida J.R., Williams J., Vijayakumar P., Balogun A., Matsakas A., Trim S.A., Patel K. & Vaiyapuri S., 2023. Indian Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria regalis) Venom Affects Myoblast Function and Causes Skeletal Muscle Damage. Cells 12, 2074, 21 pp.

· Smith A.M., 1986. The tarantula: classification and identification guide. Fitzgerald Publishing, 179 pp.

CITES, 2019. Updates on decisions made on proposals to amend Appendices I and II at CoP18. online at https://cites.org/eng/updates_decisions_cop18_species_proposals

Vlierberghe D.V., 2016. Poecilotheria metallica. Theraphosidae.be. online at https://web.archive.org/web/20190830113229/http://www.theraphosidae.be/en/poecilotheria-metallica/

Molur S., Daniel B.A. & Siliwal M., 2008. Poecilotheria metallica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T63563A12681959. online at  https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T63563A12681959.en.

Poecilotheria metallica -World Spider Catalog
https://wsc.nmbe.ch/spec-data/12049/taxon

REFERENCES (part 2) · Raman K., Vimalraj S., Krishnakumar B.M., Balachandran N. & Tomar A., 2019. Range extension of the Gooty Tarantula Poecilotheria metallica (Araneae: Theraphosidae) in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 11, p. 14373–14376. · Richards N.J., Alqallaf A., Mitchell R.D., Parnell A., Haidar H.B., Almeida J.R., Williams J., Vijayakumar P., Balogun A., Matsakas A., Trim S.A., Patel K. & Vaiyapuri S., 2023. Indian Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria regalis) Venom Affects Myoblast Function and Causes Skeletal Muscle Damage. Cells 12, 2074, 21 pp. · Smith A.M., 1986. The tarantula: classification and identification guide. Fitzgerald Publishing, 179 pp. CITES, 2019. Updates on decisions made on proposals to amend Appendices I and II at CoP18. online at https://cites.org/eng/updates_decisions_cop18_species_proposals Vlierberghe D.V., 2016. Poecilotheria metallica. Theraphosidae.be. online at https://web.archive.org/web/20190830113229/http://www.theraphosidae.be/en/poecilotheria-metallica/ Molur S., Daniel B.A. & Siliwal M., 2008. Poecilotheria metallica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T63563A12681959. online at https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T63563A12681959.en. Poecilotheria metallica -World Spider Catalog https://wsc.nmbe.ch/spec-data/12049/taxon

And of course: some (I'm kidding, a lot of) references, thank you for reading I’ll see you on the next #Cheliceratime!

5/5

07.03.2026 08:05 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Poecilotheria metallica & humans

This species is also called the “Gooty sapphire tarantula”, in reference to the town of Gooty from where the first specimen came in 1898/1899. This name is mostly a coincidence: no living individuals have been found in or near this town and that the said specimen was found near a railway, prompting a possible foreign origin to the town. Poecilotheria spiders as a whole are called by many names, from “ornamental tarantulas” to “tiger spiders”, or even, more familiarly, “Pokies”.

They gradually gained in popularity among spider enthusiasts these last decades, but due to potential dangers of detaining such species for inexperienced folks (rapidity, size, venom potency) and something we’ll see on the next slide, I refuse to talk about captivity related to this species.

Poecilotheria metallica & humans This species is also called the “Gooty sapphire tarantula”, in reference to the town of Gooty from where the first specimen came in 1898/1899. This name is mostly a coincidence: no living individuals have been found in or near this town and that the said specimen was found near a railway, prompting a possible foreign origin to the town. Poecilotheria spiders as a whole are called by many names, from “ornamental tarantulas” to “tiger spiders”, or even, more familiarly, “Pokies”. They gradually gained in popularity among spider enthusiasts these last decades, but due to potential dangers of detaining such species for inexperienced folks (rapidity, size, venom potency) and something we’ll see on the next slide, I refuse to talk about captivity related to this species.

Spiders aren’t the animals people would think about the most when talking threatened species, but A LOT are. Poecilotheria metallica is one of the most threatened spider species in the world, and has been classified as a critically endangered species since 2008 (its the last stage before “Extinct in the Wild”). The whole Poecilotheria genus has been protected under CITES since 2019.

This situation is entirely due to humans, who continuously deforest this spider’s habitat and collect wild specimens for pet trade. The first point cannot be easily solved due to local economic issues, but at least if we could not worsen the situation and leave these animals at peace in their environment that’d be great, before we push again another species to extinction.

Spiders aren’t the animals people would think about the most when talking threatened species, but A LOT are. Poecilotheria metallica is one of the most threatened spider species in the world, and has been classified as a critically endangered species since 2008 (its the last stage before “Extinct in the Wild”). The whole Poecilotheria genus has been protected under CITES since 2019. This situation is entirely due to humans, who continuously deforest this spider’s habitat and collect wild specimens for pet trade. The first point cannot be easily solved due to local economic issues, but at least if we could not worsen the situation and leave these animals at peace in their environment that’d be great, before we push again another species to extinction.

Is this drawing accurate ?
I did this one several years ago but I’m still pretty happy of what I’ve done, it’s a magnificent species!

Spinerrets could have been more detailed.

If I were to redo it today I think I would be less timid on colors, I was soft with my pencils back then.

Is this drawing accurate ? I did this one several years ago but I’m still pretty happy of what I’ve done, it’s a magnificent species! Spinerrets could have been more detailed. If I were to redo it today I think I would be less timid on colors, I was soft with my pencils back then.

We've known this spider for a long time, and unfortunately we may not know it for long, since it's one the most endangered spider in the world due to human activities (and yes, don't care to not being neutral: dont breed this one in captivity please)
+ the usual drawing feedback

#Cheliceratime
4/5

07.03.2026 08:05 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
This spider is an arboreal species, closely associated with big hollow trees that can serve as shelters where it hides during the day, this species being a crepuscular to nocturnal arthropod. If nesting space is limited, individuals can live communally. Like all tarantulas, it’s a nomadic species that doesn’t use its silk to hunt.

Males are the ones moving the most, essentially in search of females to reproduce with, and can find shelter at ground level. Females, on the other hand, tend to move way less, building a micro-environment of silky burrows inside trees. An interesting behavior with females of other Poecilotheria species is their capacity to tolerate their spiderlins in their burrows at early growth stages.

This spider is an arboreal species, closely associated with big hollow trees that can serve as shelters where it hides during the day, this species being a crepuscular to nocturnal arthropod. If nesting space is limited, individuals can live communally. Like all tarantulas, it’s a nomadic species that doesn’t use its silk to hunt. Males are the ones moving the most, essentially in search of females to reproduce with, and can find shelter at ground level. Females, on the other hand, tend to move way less, building a micro-environment of silky burrows inside trees. An interesting behavior with females of other Poecilotheria species is their capacity to tolerate their spiderlins in their burrows at early growth stages.

It’s a fast-moving hunter, like it’s usually the case with old world tarantulas. Full-grown Poecilotheria adults are capable of taking down many animals: usually larvae & adult insects, but also other arachnids & even small birds and small mammals like bats & rodents. They are of the sit-and-wait type of hunter, ambushing their prey and rushing fast on them to immobilize them. They begin to feed after rolling their prey in long silk threads.

Poecilotheria species’ have potent myotoxic venom, damaging muscle integrity and recovery, which help to paralyze their prey, making them formidable apex predators among arthropods. Even tho no deaths have been recorded, they are on the list of medical significant spiders, a venimous bite leading to muscle pain, fever, headaches, nausea and so on.

It’s a fast-moving hunter, like it’s usually the case with old world tarantulas. Full-grown Poecilotheria adults are capable of taking down many animals: usually larvae & adult insects, but also other arachnids & even small birds and small mammals like bats & rodents. They are of the sit-and-wait type of hunter, ambushing their prey and rushing fast on them to immobilize them. They begin to feed after rolling their prey in long silk threads. Poecilotheria species’ have potent myotoxic venom, damaging muscle integrity and recovery, which help to paralyze their prey, making them formidable apex predators among arthropods. Even tho no deaths have been recorded, they are on the list of medical significant spiders, a venimous bite leading to muscle pain, fever, headaches, nausea and so on.

P. metallica belongs to the family Theraphosidae, which contains the species most people think of when talking about tarantulas: heavy built, often large, fast, fluffy spiders, with some of them being the biggest spiders of all time. However, tarantulas in a broader sense (=Mygalomorphae) are way more diverse than this sole family: to make it simple, a tarantula/mygalomorphae in this sense is basically any spider with parallel fangs and without segmentation on its opisthosoma, size having no role in defining what is a tarantula.


The slide comprise a phylogenetic tree of tarantulas, in which theraphosids are deeply nested next to the barychelids

P. metallica belongs to the family Theraphosidae, which contains the species most people think of when talking about tarantulas: heavy built, often large, fast, fluffy spiders, with some of them being the biggest spiders of all time. However, tarantulas in a broader sense (=Mygalomorphae) are way more diverse than this sole family: to make it simple, a tarantula/mygalomorphae in this sense is basically any spider with parallel fangs and without segmentation on its opisthosoma, size having no role in defining what is a tarantula. The slide comprise a phylogenetic tree of tarantulas, in which theraphosids are deeply nested next to the barychelids

Theraphosidae is the largest tarantula family, with more than a thousand species registered. These spiders are usually divided into old world & new world tarantulas, the first ones forming a grade from which the latter emerged after colonizing South America. Among Theraphosidae, P. metallica belongs to the Poecilotheriinae, a sub-family of old world tarantulas represented only by the genus Poecilotheria. All species are endemic to the Indomalayan biogeographical realm (Indian sub-continent & Indonesian archipelago).


The slide shows a phylogenetic tree that illustrate how poecilotheria is part of the main bunch of old world tarantulas. This big group is the sister group to new world tarantulas, and 2 families of old world tarantulas are at the base of the whole tree

Theraphosidae is the largest tarantula family, with more than a thousand species registered. These spiders are usually divided into old world & new world tarantulas, the first ones forming a grade from which the latter emerged after colonizing South America. Among Theraphosidae, P. metallica belongs to the Poecilotheriinae, a sub-family of old world tarantulas represented only by the genus Poecilotheria. All species are endemic to the Indomalayan biogeographical realm (Indian sub-continent & Indonesian archipelago). The slide shows a phylogenetic tree that illustrate how poecilotheria is part of the main bunch of old world tarantulas. This big group is the sister group to new world tarantulas, and 2 families of old world tarantulas are at the base of the whole tree

Next, it's time to talk ecology, predatino and of course, venom (please, do not breed this one unless you're an expert)
I have a few things to say about its phylogeny too, tarantula's evolution showing some influence of biogeography with subgroups isolated in certain places

#Cheliceratime
3/5

07.03.2026 08:05 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
Poecilotheria metallica is a large tarantula capable of reaching 6/7 cm in body length and almost 20 cm in leg span at full maturity.

It exhibits the classical body plan of large tarantulas, with long & strong legs, long leg-like pedipalps, large chelicerae and 8 eyes clustered in 2 rows at the body front. Claws are retractable and usually hidden.

Like other species of this genus, the legs have little yellow parts and the opisthosoma shows a fractal pattern on its dorsal side. It’s covered with long & numerous setae, giving it a fluffy look. Unlike american tarantulas, there’s no urticating setae. The prosoma is also slightly flattened compared to other tarantulas.

Poecilotheria metallica is a large tarantula capable of reaching 6/7 cm in body length and almost 20 cm in leg span at full maturity. It exhibits the classical body plan of large tarantulas, with long & strong legs, long leg-like pedipalps, large chelicerae and 8 eyes clustered in 2 rows at the body front. Claws are retractable and usually hidden. Like other species of this genus, the legs have little yellow parts and the opisthosoma shows a fractal pattern on its dorsal side. It’s covered with long & numerous setae, giving it a fluffy look. Unlike american tarantulas, there’s no urticating setae. The prosoma is also slightly flattened compared to other tarantulas.

This species is famous for its flashy blue coloration, more pronounced than any other species of the same genus. Blue is rare among animals, and like many beetles & birds, P. metallica uses an old trick to appear blue without having any blue pigment. The spider’s setae nano-structure reflects light waves up to the point what’s perceived is only the blue part of the light spectrum.

This optic trick is called a structural color, and is why many birds’ feathers, thanks to iridescence, can have different colors depending on light and POV (best example being the blue jay that isn’t blue at all). Since structural colors don’t relie on pigments but on the geometry of body part’s structures, they tend to be way more preserved, like tiger beetles keeping their impressive colors long after passing.

This species is famous for its flashy blue coloration, more pronounced than any other species of the same genus. Blue is rare among animals, and like many beetles & birds, P. metallica uses an old trick to appear blue without having any blue pigment. The spider’s setae nano-structure reflects light waves up to the point what’s perceived is only the blue part of the light spectrum. This optic trick is called a structural color, and is why many birds’ feathers, thanks to iridescence, can have different colors depending on light and POV (best example being the blue jay that isn’t blue at all). Since structural colors don’t relie on pigments but on the geometry of body part’s structures, they tend to be way more preserved, like tiger beetles keeping their impressive colors long after passing.

Even tho it’s not always a perfect match, males & females can often be distinguished by their overall coloration. Females are the ones exhibiting the most the vivid blue color, with clearer defined patterns. Males tend to have more dull brownish colors and dimmer patterns. Both are about the same size, even if males have a slight tendency to be a little lightlier built than females.

The precise determination between both sexes relies on adult features, making it difficult to assess guesses before the final molt from juvenile to adult.

Even tho it’s not always a perfect match, males & females can often be distinguished by their overall coloration. Females are the ones exhibiting the most the vivid blue color, with clearer defined patterns. Males tend to have more dull brownish colors and dimmer patterns. Both are about the same size, even if males have a slight tendency to be a little lightlier built than females. The precise determination between both sexes relies on adult features, making it difficult to assess guesses before the final molt from juvenile to adult.

Poecilotheria metallica is only known from the Indian sub-continent in a narrow area running from the Nallamala Hills (Andhra Pradesh state) to the Pakkam Malai Reserve Forest (Tamil Nadu state). This spider lives in tropical environments ranging from dry thorn scrubs to tropical dry deciduous and tropical dry evergreen forests.

Like many large tarantulas, this species has a greater life expectancy than most spiders. Males can live 3 to 4 years, while females can typically live for 11 to 12 years, some having endured up to 15 years, a life span comparable to several house cats.

Poecilotheria metallica is only known from the Indian sub-continent in a narrow area running from the Nallamala Hills (Andhra Pradesh state) to the Pakkam Malai Reserve Forest (Tamil Nadu state). This spider lives in tropical environments ranging from dry thorn scrubs to tropical dry deciduous and tropical dry evergreen forests. Like many large tarantulas, this species has a greater life expectancy than most spiders. Males can live 3 to 4 years, while females can typically live for 11 to 12 years, some having endured up to 15 years, a life span comparable to several house cats.

First, let's set the stage by talking about the morphology, male/female dimorphism, coloration & distribution of this species

#Cheliceratime
2/5

07.03.2026 08:05 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
This old world tarantula is an endemic species from India, popular for its vibrant blue coloration, and can reach 15 to 20 cm in leg span. This large tree-dwelling arachnid is among the most endangered spider species in the world.

Size: 6/7cm of body length
Time period: Holocene (present day)
Conservation status: Critically Endangered

The animal drawn is a blue tarantula spider

This old world tarantula is an endemic species from India, popular for its vibrant blue coloration, and can reach 15 to 20 cm in leg span. This large tree-dwelling arachnid is among the most endangered spider species in the world. Size: 6/7cm of body length Time period: Holocene (present day) Conservation status: Critically Endangered The animal drawn is a blue tarantula spider

What time is it? It’s #Cheliceratime!
One of my favourite spider of all time in Cheliceratime today, Poecilotheria metallica, the peacock tarantula!

All the basic infos are here but if you want to learn more, there’s waaay more below!⬇️
#spider #tarantula #india #arachnid #sciart #bugsky #invert
1/5

07.03.2026 08:05 — 👍 12    🔁 6    💬 1    📌 1

Important note, I messed up on this slide, the body length is of 1,5 MILLIMETER, not 1,5 cm!!!

06.03.2026 17:50 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
M. gruberi belongs to the Nemastomatidae, a harvestmen family from the Northern Hemisphere & part of the Disponi sub-order. This family is split into the Ortholasmatinae sub-family from the pacific coasts of Asia & North America, and the European Nemastomatinae sub-family, which Mitostoma is a part of. The Mitostoma genus stands out among its relatives by the structure of its reproductive organs and its extremely elongated legs, way longer than other Nemastomatidae. This latter feature makes them a bit reminiscent of many species from the Eupnoi sub-order, despite being completely unrelated.


The slide also comprise a phylogenetic tree showing the Nemastomatidae family deeply nested into the Dispnoi sub-order. The family split into 2 sub-families with distinct geographical distribution, the nemastomatines being europeans and the ortholasmatines being distributed across the pacific coasts.

M. gruberi belongs to the Nemastomatidae, a harvestmen family from the Northern Hemisphere & part of the Disponi sub-order. This family is split into the Ortholasmatinae sub-family from the pacific coasts of Asia & North America, and the European Nemastomatinae sub-family, which Mitostoma is a part of. The Mitostoma genus stands out among its relatives by the structure of its reproductive organs and its extremely elongated legs, way longer than other Nemastomatidae. This latter feature makes them a bit reminiscent of many species from the Eupnoi sub-order, despite being completely unrelated. The slide also comprise a phylogenetic tree showing the Nemastomatidae family deeply nested into the Dispnoi sub-order. The family split into 2 sub-families with distinct geographical distribution, the nemastomatines being europeans and the ortholasmatines being distributed across the pacific coasts.

Previous eocene harvestmen were identified as Mitostoma species, but were later reassigned to the close genus Nemastoma. The differentiation between these two genera is sometimes complicated due to the temporal overlap between the different geographically close European eocene ambers: each amber could represent potential temporal phases of a same regional ecosystem, hence the difficulty to assess certainly some identifications & the numerous shared species between these localities, so more work is needed to have a clearer picture!


The slide also comprise a map of Europe during the Paleogene, both Baltic, German & Ukrainian ambers being closely distributed across the margins of a ancient sea linking the north sea and the ancient Turan sea (a sea that covered much of continental east russia)

Previous eocene harvestmen were identified as Mitostoma species, but were later reassigned to the close genus Nemastoma. The differentiation between these two genera is sometimes complicated due to the temporal overlap between the different geographically close European eocene ambers: each amber could represent potential temporal phases of a same regional ecosystem, hence the difficulty to assess certainly some identifications & the numerous shared species between these localities, so more work is needed to have a clearer picture! The slide also comprise a map of Europe during the Paleogene, both Baltic, German & Ukrainian ambers being closely distributed across the margins of a ancient sea linking the north sea and the ancient Turan sea (a sea that covered much of continental east russia)

Is this paleoart accurate ?
It’s the first paleoart of this species, I took as much as I could from the fossil and completed with Mitostoma chrysomelas as reference; Huge thanks to IDVN/Astrobunus for all the help while drawing!!

I kept the overall smooth back of the fossil, contrasting a lot with some modern Mitostoma.

I was AGAIN out of space on the sheet, so I had no choice but to curl the legs

Colors were chosen both by taking modern Mitostoma species as reference & by looking at the sclerotinisation levels of the fossil.

Is this paleoart accurate ? It’s the first paleoart of this species, I took as much as I could from the fossil and completed with Mitostoma chrysomelas as reference; Huge thanks to IDVN/Astrobunus for all the help while drawing!! I kept the overall smooth back of the fossil, contrasting a lot with some modern Mitostoma. I was AGAIN out of space on the sheet, so I had no choice but to curl the legs Colors were chosen both by taking modern Mitostoma species as reference & by looking at the sclerotinisation levels of the fossil.

REFERENCES

• Derkarabetian S., Lord A., Angier K., Frigyik E. & Giribet G., 2023. An Opiliones-specific ultraconserved element probe set with a near-complete family-level phylogeny. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 187, article 107887.

• Dunlop J.A., Kotthoff U., Hammel J.U., Ahrens J. & Harms D., 2018. Arachnids in Bitterfeld amber: A unique fauna of fossils from the heart of Europe or simply old friends? Evolutionary Systematics 2, p. 31–44.

• Dunlop J. & Mitov P., 2009. Fossil harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) from Bitterfeld amber. ZooKeys 16, 347–375.

• Dunlop J.A. & Penney D., 2012. Fossil Arachnids. Monograph Series Vol.2, Siri Scientific Press. 192 pp.

• Schönhofer A.L., 2013. A taxonomic catalogue of the Dyspnoi Hansen and Sørensen, 1904 (Arachnida: Opiliones). Zootaxa 3679, 68 pp.

The ICS international chronostratigraphic chart 2025. Episodes 2025. Online at https://stratigraphy.org/chart

Colorado Plateau Geosystems Inc., 2026.
Global Series. In DeepTimeMaps. Online at https://deeptimemaps.com/map-lists-thumbnails/global-series/

Dunlop J. A., Penney D. & Jekel D. 2023.
A summary list of fossil spiders and their relatives. In World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern, online at http://wsc.nmbe.ch, version 23.5.

REFERENCES • Derkarabetian S., Lord A., Angier K., Frigyik E. & Giribet G., 2023. An Opiliones-specific ultraconserved element probe set with a near-complete family-level phylogeny. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 187, article 107887. • Dunlop J.A., Kotthoff U., Hammel J.U., Ahrens J. & Harms D., 2018. Arachnids in Bitterfeld amber: A unique fauna of fossils from the heart of Europe or simply old friends? Evolutionary Systematics 2, p. 31–44. • Dunlop J. & Mitov P., 2009. Fossil harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) from Bitterfeld amber. ZooKeys 16, 347–375. • Dunlop J.A. & Penney D., 2012. Fossil Arachnids. Monograph Series Vol.2, Siri Scientific Press. 192 pp. • Schönhofer A.L., 2013. A taxonomic catalogue of the Dyspnoi Hansen and Sørensen, 1904 (Arachnida: Opiliones). Zootaxa 3679, 68 pp. The ICS international chronostratigraphic chart 2025. Episodes 2025. Online at https://stratigraphy.org/chart Colorado Plateau Geosystems Inc., 2026. Global Series. In DeepTimeMaps. Online at https://deeptimemaps.com/map-lists-thumbnails/global-series/ Dunlop J. A., Penney D. & Jekel D. 2023. A summary list of fossil spiders and their relatives. In World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern, online at http://wsc.nmbe.ch, version 23.5.

Although being small, this harvestman insert itself quite well into what's known of the evolution of its family & of the european arachnofauna during the paleogene, and of course the usual drawing autofeedback and some refs.

Thank you for reading & I’ll see you on the next #Cheliceratime!
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06.03.2026 17:04 — 👍 5    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Mitostoma gruberi is known by only one specimen found in a chunk of Bitterfeld amber. This fossil resin, produced by ancient pines, is one of the several ambers from the Paleogene of Europe, like the popular Baltic Amber. In today’s case, this resin was discovered in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, probably in the Goitsche mine near Bitterfeld-Wolfen,
the city that gave this amber its name.

The precise age of this amber is a still an ongoing debate. First estimates gave it a Miocene datation, but the amber chunks are found in Oligocene rocks. The resin itself is older based on the animals it contains, a significant amount being identic to Baltic Amber to consider a certain age proximity, (but the 2 resins are different based on both chemical composition & fauna). Due to the fact that the amber has been reworked and trapped into oligocene sediments, its true precise age is unknown, assumed to be somewhat Late Eocene, around 40-34 million years ago.

Mitostoma gruberi is known by only one specimen found in a chunk of Bitterfeld amber. This fossil resin, produced by ancient pines, is one of the several ambers from the Paleogene of Europe, like the popular Baltic Amber. In today’s case, this resin was discovered in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, probably in the Goitsche mine near Bitterfeld-Wolfen, the city that gave this amber its name. The precise age of this amber is a still an ongoing debate. First estimates gave it a Miocene datation, but the amber chunks are found in Oligocene rocks. The resin itself is older based on the animals it contains, a significant amount being identic to Baltic Amber to consider a certain age proximity, (but the 2 resins are different based on both chemical composition & fauna). Due to the fact that the amber has been reworked and trapped into oligocene sediments, its true precise age is unknown, assumed to be somewhat Late Eocene, around 40-34 million years ago.

During Late Eocene, the area that would become Bitterfeld was very different from today. Europe was under a warm climate and home to large mixed forests (imagine a mix of a warm-temperate forest & a tropical one), with large water bodies nearby. Pines’ sap trapped small animals, mostly arthropods like Mitostoma gruberi.

Despite not being the most studied fossil resin, Bitterfeld amber revealed a rich arachnid fauna of at least 50 known species, ranging from spiders to mites, harvestmen or even scorpions and pseudoscorpions. The arachnofauna preserved in this amber, like all the Europeans’ amber from the Paleogene, argues in favor of a warm climate.

During Late Eocene, the area that would become Bitterfeld was very different from today. Europe was under a warm climate and home to large mixed forests (imagine a mix of a warm-temperate forest & a tropical one), with large water bodies nearby. Pines’ sap trapped small animals, mostly arthropods like Mitostoma gruberi. Despite not being the most studied fossil resin, Bitterfeld amber revealed a rich arachnid fauna of at least 50 known species, ranging from spiders to mites, harvestmen or even scorpions and pseudoscorpions. The arachnofauna preserved in this amber, like all the Europeans’ amber from the Paleogene, argues in favor of a warm climate.

Like all species of the same genus, Mitostoma gruberi had extremely long legs (so long they aren’t fully preserved) with short pseudoannulations, attached to a rounded compact body with a distinct ocular tubercle of 2 eyes. The pedipalp are extra long, twice the main body in total length. Compared to many current European species, the dorsal curve is rather smooth.

This species is mainly identified by its front appendages, some details on the chelicerae and pedipalps making it distinct from other paleogene fossil harvestmen.

Like all species of the same genus, Mitostoma gruberi had extremely long legs (so long they aren’t fully preserved) with short pseudoannulations, attached to a rounded compact body with a distinct ocular tubercle of 2 eyes. The pedipalp are extra long, twice the main body in total length. Compared to many current European species, the dorsal curve is rather smooth. This species is mainly identified by its front appendages, some details on the chelicerae and pedipalps making it distinct from other paleogene fossil harvestmen.

One cool thing with amber is how much detail can be seen, allowing one to observe and describe specimens with the same precision as current living species (minus the choice of the observation’s pose since they are frozen in the resin). For example, pedipalps and chelicerae morphologies allowed scientists to conclude the specimen was a male.

However, one lesser clear question is the maturity of the individual. It’s a very small harvestman (1,5 mm of body length) that, depending on how you interpret the texture of its dorsal side, could be either a juvenile or an adult.

One cool thing with amber is how much detail can be seen, allowing one to observe and describe specimens with the same precision as current living species (minus the choice of the observation’s pose since they are frozen in the resin). For example, pedipalps and chelicerae morphologies allowed scientists to conclude the specimen was a male. However, one lesser clear question is the maturity of the individual. It’s a very small harvestman (1,5 mm of body length) that, depending on how you interpret the texture of its dorsal side, could be either a juvenile or an adult.

You know the drill, let's talk about its morphology, discovery & paleoenvironment first to meet this harvestman from the Bitterfeld amber, an amber from germany (and personal opinion, a really underrated amber)

#Cheliceratime
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06.03.2026 17:04 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
Whether this fossil harvestman is a juvenile or an adult is still unclear. It was found in Bitterfeld amber, one of the several ambers from the Paleogene of North/Central Europe.

Size : 1,5cm of body length
Time period : Late Eocene
Paleoart speculativometer : Some Missing parts

The animal drawn is a harvestman, a spider-like animal with extremely long thin legs and a main body made of 1 part (spider's body is split in 2 parts

Whether this fossil harvestman is a juvenile or an adult is still unclear. It was found in Bitterfeld amber, one of the several ambers from the Paleogene of North/Central Europe. Size : 1,5cm of body length Time period : Late Eocene Paleoart speculativometer : Some Missing parts The animal drawn is a harvestman, a spider-like animal with extremely long thin legs and a main body made of 1 part (spider's body is split in 2 parts

What time is it? It’s #Cheliceratime & #Fossilfriday !
For this entry we're talking about Mitostoma gruberi, a harvestman from german eocene amber!

All the basic infos are here but if you want to learn more, there’s more below!⬇️

#harvestman #arachnid #eocene #paleoart #sciart #bugsky #invert
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06.03.2026 17:04 — 👍 26    🔁 7    💬 3    📌 0
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🦕 Some popularisation work for this #fossilfriday.
Here is an illustration describing the different sedimentary features found in the Swiss Jura.
The following slides explain the vocabulary used by trace specialists.

#scientificillustration #sauropod #palaeontology

06.06.2025 09:54 — 👍 16    🔁 11    💬 1    📌 0

I think it's one of the posts I'm the most proud of to be honest, it'll be the longest I've puslished!

06.03.2026 13:07 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
· Linné C. von & Salvius L., 1758. Caroli Linnaei...Systema naturae per regna tria naturae :secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Holmiae: Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii.

· Linné C. von & Salvius L., 1758. Caroli Linnaei...Systema naturae per regna tria naturae :secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Holmiae: Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii.

Not gonna brag, but I went that far for one of the upcoming posts, I'm citing Linné directly

06.03.2026 12:12 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Been working with @umbreonoctie.bsky.social from some time now to be the science advisor one, super happy to see my favorite dinosaur with my flag🏳️‍⚧️❤️

And I suggested Zoropsis spinimana for the head × Poecilotheria regalis for the body colors, looks absolutely perfect spider patterns all the way 🤌

06.03.2026 09:39 — 👍 14    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
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I'm rewatching My Adventures with Superman, I love this scene so much, I have such a soft spot for Clark being genuinely nice & kind with kids❤️

05.03.2026 21:18 — 👍 4    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Cheliceratime by @amypteride.bsky.social A place to discover extinct & extant chelicerates🕷🦂 with homemade drawings/paleoarts✏️ https://linktr.ee/cheliceratime

And for you on Bluesky, remember there's already a Cheliceratime feed you can sub to if you want to scroll all the entries directly on bluesky! :D
bsky.app/profile/amyp...

Thank you for reading & I'll see you on the next #Cheliceratime ! :D

04.03.2026 17:00 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
A screenshot of the phylogenetic tree of cheliceratime entries

A screenshot of the phylogenetic tree of cheliceratime entries

a screenshot of what happen when you click on an entry of the tree, you'll have the links to both insta, bluesky & tiktok

a screenshot of what happen when you click on an entry of the tree, you'll have the links to both insta, bluesky & tiktok

Keep in mind this tree is a synthesis of various works & I still kept large uncertainties when I considered them expressly needed, so the tree will most likely change in the following months/years, nothing is set in stone except the entries & their links when you click on them!^^
#Cheliceratime
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04.03.2026 17:00 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

What time is it? It’s #Cheliceratime!
No classic post today, more an announcement: you can now find all the entries in the form of a phylogenetic tree with all the entries' links right here! ⬇️
www.canva.com/design/DAG4G...

#Cheliceratime
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04.03.2026 17:00 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

なんかいて草

04.03.2026 14:16 — 👍 31    🔁 4    💬 0    📌 0
A comic panel of Lois Lane saying to Superman "I heard your voice. Felt you near. I knew that Superman was there with me, fighting for me, no matter what. That's all it took. That's how you saved me."

A comic panel of Lois Lane saying to Superman "I heard your voice. Felt you near. I knew that Superman was there with me, fighting for me, no matter what. That's all it took. That's how you saved me."

A panel where Superman save a man and say to him "I'm trapped in here, just like you, our minds linked by the parasite nervous system. I'm here to let you know you're not alone. Right now, I'm doing the same for all two million, seven thousand, three hundred seventy nine thousand, three hundred eighty eight people in metropolis. Not to mention the dogs and cats and pigeons and carp from the hobs river and..."

A panel where Superman save a man and say to him "I'm trapped in here, just like you, our minds linked by the parasite nervous system. I'm here to let you know you're not alone. Right now, I'm doing the same for all two million, seven thousand, three hundred seventy nine thousand, three hundred eighty eight people in metropolis. Not to mention the dogs and cats and pigeons and carp from the hobs river and..."

A panel of a discussion between Superman and Hawkman
Superman (in a flashback): "you tell them I don't sleep and nothing they have can hurt me. Tell them my sens stretch for miles, and I'm strong as the sun. And you tell them I'm coming."
Hawkman: "Yeah  I remember."
Superman: " "the way of this world was written in stone". That's what you said, like it's something immutable. Afraid of a bit of stone, when all this time... you could have move mountains. Tell the people you work for I'm not you Hall."

A panel of a discussion between Superman and Hawkman Superman (in a flashback): "you tell them I don't sleep and nothing they have can hurt me. Tell them my sens stretch for miles, and I'm strong as the sun. And you tell them I'm coming." Hawkman: "Yeah I remember." Superman: " "the way of this world was written in stone". That's what you said, like it's something immutable. Afraid of a bit of stone, when all this time... you could have move mountains. Tell the people you work for I'm not you Hall."

Absolute Superman is just absolute peak, as a life long Superman nerd, it's the true "darker mature" reboot the new 52 should have been, without ever losing that not staying passive, doing the right thing, giving others hope to act too and being really political is in the freaking heart of Superman

04.03.2026 09:20 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Dark, shallow underwater scene showing three Astraspis, yellow, finless, jawless fish with armored head swimming to the right, surrounded by some algae and rocks. 3D artwork.

Dark, shallow underwater scene showing three Astraspis, yellow, finless, jawless fish with armored head swimming to the right, surrounded by some algae and rocks. 3D artwork.

Murky underwater scene with two Eriptychius, dark brownish, finless, jawless fish facing each other, half buried in the soft sediment, with rocks in the background. 3D artwork.

Murky underwater scene with two Eriptychius, dark brownish, finless, jawless fish facing each other, half buried in the soft sediment, with rocks in the background. 3D artwork.

Top view of a shallow marine environment with Eriptychius and Astraspis, two different species of jawless fishes, loitering around the soft sediment and rocks. 3D artwork.

Top view of a shallow marine environment with Eriptychius and Astraspis, two different species of jawless fishes, loitering around the soft sediment and rocks. 3D artwork.

Look at my fesh
#Art #SciArt

03.03.2026 17:49 — 👍 382    🔁 96    💬 19    📌 1
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Dates à noter dans vos agendas ! ✏️📆

✨️Festival #pint26 du 18 au 20 mai 2026
💻Programme en ligne : 30 mars
🎟Tickets en ligne : 13 avril

Plus d'infos ⬇️
pintofscience.fr

03.03.2026 10:10 — 👍 37    🔁 26    💬 1    📌 2
Known for more than 140 years, this species may be one of the most widespread palpigrade in the world due to human activities that accidentally exported it far from Europe & Northern Africa. The long flagellum at its end can break during its life.

Size: 1 to 2mm in body length
Time period: Holocene (present day)
Conservation status: Least concern/Near threatened

The animal drawn is a palpigrade, a beige scorpion/spider like animal but with long front legs and a long tail-like flagellum at its end

Known for more than 140 years, this species may be one of the most widespread palpigrade in the world due to human activities that accidentally exported it far from Europe & Northern Africa. The long flagellum at its end can break during its life. Size: 1 to 2mm in body length Time period: Holocene (present day) Conservation status: Least concern/Near threatened The animal drawn is a palpigrade, a beige scorpion/spider like animal but with long front legs and a long tail-like flagellum at its end

What time is it? It’s #Cheliceratime!
Today we're talking about palpigrades, small cryptic arachnids, with one of their most widespread member, Eukoenenia mirabilis!

All the basic infos are here but if you want to learn more, there’s more below!⬇️

#palpigrade #arachnid #sciart #bugsky #invert

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02.03.2026 17:31 — 👍 11    🔁 6    💬 1    📌 0
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🕷️ Souvent représentées comme des créatures malveillantes dans les livres et les films, les #araignées ont très mauvaise presse chez les humains. Mais d'où vient la crainte répandue de cet #animal ?

D'après l'article du Muséum : "Qu'est-ce qu'une araignée ?" www.mnhn.fr/fr/qu-est-ce...

02.03.2026 13:48 — 👍 21    🔁 13    💬 0    📌 2