Fossilized remains of a disturbingly-big spider were claimed to be discovered earlier this year, and many people freaked out. It turns out, however, that the spider fossil was falsified and was actually a crayfish with extra legs painted on it.
The remains were initially discovered in northeast China's Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation, by fossil hunters who lived nearby. They sold their find to scientists at the Dalian Natural History Museum, located in the province of Liaoning. Those researchers proceeded to publish a scientific paper on the fossil, naming the spider Mongolarachne chaoyangensis, and declaring it to be a species previously unknown to science.
Scientists in Beijing had their doubts, though. Not only was the so-called spider suspiciously large – with a main body length of about 35 mm (1.4 in) – but it also looked rather odd.
How did the scientists figure out that the spider was actually a crayfish? The answer on New Atlas.
(Image Credit: Selden et. al/ New Atlas)