An ancient fossil of a spider has been discovered in Germany, dating back 310 to 315 million years. The fossil, named Arthrolycosa wolterbeeki, is the first known Palaeozoic spider found in Germany and belongs to the order Araneae. With preserved spinnerets and a near-perfect specimen, it is one of only 12 Carboniferous species confidently assigned to Araneae. This low diversity compared to other arachnid groups may be due to the spiders' similarities to mesothele spiders and their limited opportunities for fossilization. The fossil now serves as an important holotype for Araneae.