Okay, it’s Christmas Eve in Canada. Here is your virtual Christmas fun prize:
Earlier this year, a remarkable new fossil specimen was unearthed in the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China by area fossil hunters — possibly a huge ancient spider species, as yet unknown to science.
University of Kansas, “This Ancient “Giant Spider” Fossil Surprised Paleontologists – Detective Work Revealed a Hoax” at SciTech Daily
It was called “Mongolarachne chaoyangensis,” and it was written up in journals.
But then:
But other scientists in Beijing, upon seeing the paper, had suspicions. The spider fossil was huge and strange looking. Concerned, they contacted a U.S. colleague who specializes in ancient spider fossils: Paul Selden, distinguished professor of invertebrate paleontology in the Department of Geology at the University of Kansas.
University of Kansas, “This Ancient “Giant Spider” Fossil Surprised Paleontologists – Detective Work Revealed a Hoax” at SciTech Daily
It turned out to be a badly preserved crayfish onto which someone had painted some legs. Apparently, the main market for this sort of thing is gullible tourists. That is, …
Along came a spider
And sat down beside her
And snaffled her money away …
Now and then, scientists get snaffled. Needless to say, “Mongolarachne chaoyangensis” won’t be on a serious museum tour soon.
But not to worry, there are many great, real fossils out there, bringing the past to life! Merry Christmas!