Spores older than in your shower

[arcticpenguin]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/09/17/oldest.plants.ap/index.html

New fossil evidence says that land plants are at least 475 million years old. They were Liverwort type things that had spores.

 

[arcticpenguin]

Another fossil found:

World's oldest genitals found

 

[Goshawk]

The penis of the ancient harvestmen insects, commonly known as a daddy-long-legs, was two-thirds the length of the body...

 

[WildCat]

Another fossil found:

World's oldest genitals found

I thought that was going to be a Mick Jagger joke.

 

[WildCat]

quote:
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The penis of the ancient harvestmen insects, commonly known as a daddy-long-legs, was two-thirds the length of the body...
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So the name is somewhat of a misnomer...

 

[Ladewig]

So how does one go about changing one's user name?

I've got dibs on "Daddy Long Legs"!

 

[arcticpenguin]

So how does one go about changing one's user name?

I've got dibs on "Daddy Long Legs"!

Contact Linda. You could also contact Hal, but he's got other things on his mind just lately so don't bother him.

 

[espritch]

Interesting stuff. Is it anal retentive of me to be anoyed that the article keeps refering the harvestmen as "insects"?

 

[WildCat]

Interesting stuff. Is it anal retentive of me to be anoyed that the article keeps refering the harvestmen as "insects"?

Yes, it was confusing at first since daddy long legs are arachnids. Then I realized that the author was just stupid.

 

[Leif Roar]

Yes, it was confusing at first since daddy long legs are arachnids.

That depends what side of the Atlantic you're on. In England, "daddy long legs" refers to the crane fly, which is an insect.

 

[arcticpenguin]

Interesting stuff. Is it anal retentive of me to be anoyed that the article keeps refering the harvestmen as "insects"?

Yes, but in a good way.

 

[davefoc]

That depends what side of the Atlantic you're on. In England, "daddy long legs" refers to the crane fly, which is an insect.

My experience is that the insects which I think are crane flies (long legged, brownish orange creatures) are often referred to as daddy long legs in the US.

The long legged spiders that cause spider webs to hang from our ceilings are also called daddy long legs in the US. I believe that these are the creatures which are somewhat more formally known as harvestman spiders.

Is what I said above correct?

 

[Leif Roar]

My experience is that the insects which I think are crane flies (long legged, brownish orange creatures) are often referred to as daddy long legs in the US.

The long legged spiders that cause spider webs to hang from our ceilings are also called daddy long legs in the US. I believe that these are the creatures which are somewhat more formally known as harvestman spiders.

Is what I said above correct?

Hmm. Apparently - at least according to this page I found http://www.1upinfo.com/encyclopedia/H/harvstma.html It seems I was in error then. According to BBC News it apparently was the arachnid daddy longlegs which was involved: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3117958.stm