Acariyalike

Acariyalike is a genus of extinct spiders that belonged to the family Archaeoblemnididae. Fossil remains of Acariyalike have been found in Cambrian-aged lagerstätten, specifically in the Burgess Shale deposit in British Columbia, Canada.

The genus consists of a single species, Acariyalike hexagonophora, which was described in 1976 by renowned arachnologist Raymond J. Gilmore. The species was initially considered to be a type of arachnid, but later reevaluated to be a spider-like creature with characteristics from both spiders and scorpions.

Fossil specimens of Acariyalike show a distinctive body plan with a long abdomen and six pairs of walking legs. They lack the typical pedipalps (appendages that resemble claws) found in modern spiders. Instead, they have spines or thorns on their pedipalps, similar to scorpions.

Acariyalike hexagonophora is generally agreed to be one of the most ancient known spider-like organisms, and its discovery has provided significant insights into the evolution and diversity of arachnids during the Cambrian Period. Its unique morphology is also suggestive of a distinct from the modern spider lineage.

The age of the Acariyalike fossils places it among the earliest evidence of arthropod evolution, with some estimates suggesting that these fossils are over 500 million years old. This has garnered Acariyalike considerable interest from paleontologists, arachnologists, and evolutionary biologists seeking to understand the origins of arachnids and the Cambrian radiation of animal life.