A case of pedipalpal regeneration in a fossil harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones)

The first pedipalpal regeneration observed in a fossil harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones) is documented in a specimen of Dicranopalpus ramiger (Koch & Berendt, 1854) from Eocene Baltic amber (ca. 44–49 Ma). The tibia of the right pedipalp is strongly truncated and shorter than the adjacent patella and its apophysis. Possible reasons for this aberration are discussed. It most likely represents an example of partial tibial regeneration after a traumatic event, while experimental manipulation of the pedipalps of extant phalangiid harvestmen suggests that the observed morphology in the amber fossil is unlikely to be due to autospasy.