Images: 4-Eyed Daddy Longlegs Helps Explain Arachnid Evolution

Ancient Harvestman

These are images made from X-rays of a newly-found harvestman fossil. Turns out the ancient ancestors of today's harvestmen had not just one, but two sets of eyes.

Daddy Longlegs

The recent discovery of the harvestman fossil in eastern France may shed light on the evolution of these arachnids.[Video: Ancient Spider-Like Arachnid Revealed In X-Rays]

Scorpion Relative

"Although they have eight legs, harvestmen are not spiders. They are more closely related to another arachnid, the scorpion," study author Russell Garwood, a paleontologist at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, said in a statement.

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Ancient Aranchid

Unlike their ancestors, modern harvestmen only have one set of eyes, located close to the center of the body.

'Lost' Set of Eyes

The researchers tracked the "lost" set of eyes, and they found that a remnant of the ancient, additional eye set indeed remains in the modern species' genes.