Garwood, R.J.; Dunlop, J.A.; Selden, P.A.; et al.
taxonomy · range · morphology · topology
Study distinguishes the 305 Ma stem-like Idmonarachne from true spiders and traces Araneae to approximately 315 Ma.
Spider spinnerets are abdominal appendages that control silk deployment. Garwood et al. distinguish true spiders from the Carboniferous Idmonarachne fossil, whose preserved underside lacks spinnerets; its spider-like appearance alone does not make it a member of Araneae.
claim:taxon:araneae:morphologyThe 315–0 Ma Araneae display is an oldest-known-fossil-to-living navigation envelope and does not date spider origination or crown divergence.
claim:taxon:araneae:fossil-rangeWheeler et al. use extensive target-gene sampling to revise relationships among living spiders, while Garwood et al. distinguish the Carboniferous Idmonarachne from true spiders by its preserved appendages; the combined classification remains a sampled and revisable hypothesis.
claim:taxon:araneae:taxonomyThe cited spider phylogeny and fossil-origin studies test relationships and preserved anatomy rather than diet, habitat use, locomotor performance, body size or ecological guild; those fields remain unassigned for Araneae here.
claim:taxon:araneae:ecology