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XYSTICUS ARCHAEOPALPUS (ARACHNIDA: THOMISIDAE), A NEW SPECIES OF CRAB SPIDER FROM PLIOCENE SEDIMENTS IN WESTERN ALASKA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Robin Leech
Affiliation:
Entomology Research Institute, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa
John V. Matthews Jr.
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Alberta, Edmonton

Abstract

The palpus of a fossil crab spider, Xysticus archaeopalpus new species, is described. It was found in peat beds of the Lava Camp Mine near Deering, Alaska. This species belongs in the loculpes group, and is closely related to the extant species, Xysticus britcheri Gertsch. The peats are overlaid by basalt dating 5.7 million years old by the K/Ar method. Regional and local paleo-environmental conditions, based on evidence provided by plant and insect fossils, are discussed.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1971

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