The fossil record of whip spiders: the past of Amblypygi

Abstract Whip spiders (Amblypygi), as their name suggests, resemble (Araneae) in some aspects, but differ from them by heart-shaped (prosomal) dorsal shield, prominent grasping pedipalps, and subsequent elongate pair of feeler appendages. The oldest possible occurrences whip spiders, represented cuticle fragments, date back to the Devonian (c. 385 mya), (almost) complete fossils are known Carboniferous 300 mya) onwards. include specimens preserved on slabs or nodules (Carboniferous, Cretaceous) well amber (Cretaceous, Eocene, Miocene). We review here all fossil spider specimens, figure most interpretative drawings with high-quality photographs including 3D imaging (stereo images) make three-dimensional relief visible. Furthermore, we amend list two new (resulting 37 total). modern were measured analyse changes morphology over time. In general, shield appears have become relatively broader pedipalps walking appendages more geological morphological details discussed an evolutionary framework comparison results earlier studies.