This list records new taxa of fossil arthropods that were announced or described in 2026 (for insects, see 2026 in paleoentomology). Other peer-reviewed publications on discoveries related to arthropod paleontology which occurred in that year are also detailed here.
Chelicerates
Arachnids
Araneae NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesAntemicrotheleGen. et sp. novValidWunderlichMid-CretaceousKachin amberA spider, a member of Hexathelidae sensu lato (possibly a macrothelid). The type species is A. parva.Autotomiana patrickmuelleriSp. novValidWunderlichMid-CretaceousKachin amberA spider, a member of Deinopoidea belonging to the family Autotomianidae.Balticonesticus unguisSp. novValidWunderlichEoceneBaltic amberEurope (Baltic Sea region)A scaffold web spider.?Cretotheridion aculeatumSp. novValidWunderlichMid-CretaceousKachin amberA spider belonging to the family Theridiidae.Esuritor balticaSp. novValidWunderlichEoceneBaltic amberEurope (Baltic Sea region)A nursery web spider.LamellaphantesGen. et sp. novValidWunderlichEoceneBaltic amberEurope (Baltic Sea region)A spider belonging to the family Linyphiidae. The type species is L. eozaen.RovnopholcommaGen. et sp. novValidEskov et al.EoceneRovno amberA spider belonging to the family Theridiidae. Genus includes new species R. wunderlichi.RovnospermophoridusGen. et sp. novValidWunderlichEoceneRovno amberA spider belonging to the family Pholcidae. The type species is R. damzeni.
Spider research Foxova & Dunlop (2026) describe a new specimen of Parvithele muelleri from the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar, providing new information on the anatomy of members of this species, and representing the largest Cretaceous member of Mesothelae reported to date.
Ixodida
Tick research Chitimia-Dobler et al. (2026) redescribe Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) cretacea on the basis of data from a new specimen from the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar, and recombine the species as Alloceraea cretacea.
Opilioacarida NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesPlesioacarusGen. et sp. novXuan et al.CretaceousKachin amberThe type genus of the new family Plesioacaridae. The type species is P. minutus.
Opiliones NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesBalticolasmaGen. et sp. novValidBartel et al.EoceneBaltic amberEurope (Baltic Sea region)A harvestman belonging to the family Nemastomatidae. The type species is B. wunderlichi.
Opiliones research A harvestman with pedipalp morphology distinct from those of other fossil and extant members of the group is described from the Eocene Baltic amber by Gerbe et al. (2026).
Pseudoscorpiones NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesBaltochthoniusGen. et sp. novValidTurbanov et al.EoceneBaltic amberEurope (Baltic Sea region)A member of the family Chthoniidae. Genus includes new species B. andrushchenkoi.BurmachernesGen. et sp. novValidWillmott, Kotthoff & HarmsLate Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Kachin amberA member of the family Chernetidae. The type species is B. cenomanium.Heterolophus eridanusSp. novValidTurbanov et al.EoceneBaltic amberEurope (Baltic Sea region)A species of Heterolophus.
Pseudoscorpion research A female pseudoscorpion belonging to the group Iocheirata that carried a brood sac while grasping a leg of a fly is reported from a piece of the Eocene Baltic amber by Feng et al. (2026).
Ricinulei NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesProtoricinusGen. et comb. et sp. novValidGamarra-Cuba, Selden & DelclòsLate Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Kachin amberA member of Posteriorricinulei. The type species is "Poliochera" cretacea Wunderlich (2012); genus also includes new species P. solorzanoae.
Sarcoptiformes NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesCeratozetes acutipteromorphusSp. novYu et al.Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Kachin amberA member of the family Ceratozetidae.Diapterobates gracilipesSp. novYu et al.Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Kachin amberA member of the family Ceratozetidae.Haplochthonius nortoniSp. novValidVorontsov & KolesnikovLate Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Kachin amberA member of the family Haplochthoniidae.
Scorpiones NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesBetaburmesebuthus andreschmidtiSp. novValidLourenço in Lourenço & VeltenCretaceousKachin amberA scorpion belonging to the family Palaeoburmesebuthidae.Chaerilobuthus muelleriSp. novValidLourenço in Lourenço & VeltenCretaceousKachin amberA scorpion belonging to the family Chaerilobuthidae.SpinochaerilobuthusGen. et sp. novValidLourenço in Lourenço & VeltenCretaceousKachin amberA scorpion belonging to the family Chaerilobuthidae. The type species is S. andreschmidti.
Scorpion research Howard et al. (2026) redescribe Praearcturus gigas, and interpret Brontoscorpio anglicus and Bennettarthra annwnensis as junior synonyms of P. gigas.
Trombidiformes NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesAcarohystrixGen. et sp. novValidXuan et al.Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Kachin amberA mite distantly related to the extant Chyzeriidae; the type genus of the new family Acarohystricidae. The type species is A. magnifica.CalidothrombiumGen. et sp. novValidCosta et al.CretaceousKachin amberA mite belonging to the family Tanaupodidae. The type species is C. burmiticum.Decaphyllobius hispaniolusSp. novValidZmudzinskiMioceneDominican amberA mite belonging to the family Camerobiidae.Erythrites longifemoralisSp. novValidLiu, Fan & RenLate Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Kachin amberA mite belonging to the family Erythraeidae.Erythrites multifoveolatusSp. novValidLiu, Fan & RenLate Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Kachin amberA mite belonging to the family Erythraeidae.ProtofilumGen. et sp. novValidXuan, Zhang and Huang in Xuan et al.CretaceousA mite belonging to the family Erythraeidae. The type species is P. ordinatum.Punkochyzeria obtuseSp. novValidXuan et al.Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Kachin amberA mite belonging to the family Acarohystricidae.
General arachnid research Dunlop & Harms (2026) review the fossil record of Palpigradi, Solifugae, Ricinulei, Amblypygi, Thelyphonida and Schizomida.
Xiphosurans NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesPolonolimulusGen. et sp. novValidAudycki et al.Early Triassic (Olenekian)Zagnańsk/Goleniawy FormationA member of the family Austrolimulidae. The type species is P. zaleziankensis.
Xiphosuran research Fossils of large-bodied horseshoe crabs, associated with trace fossils assigned to the new ichnospecies Selenichnites sursumdeorsum, are described from the Ordovician (Darriwilian) Saq Formation (Saudi Arabia) by Bicknell et al. (2026), who interpret the presence of the studied specimens in a nearshore environment and their preservation in storm-deposited layers as possible evidence of similarity of spawning behaviors of Ordovician and modern horseshoe crabs. Feng et al. (2026) report trace fossils from the Lower Triassic Daye Formation (China) interpreted as evidence of predation of horseshoe crabs on polychaetes. Traces likely produced by large-bodied horseshoe crabs are reported from the Lower Triassic Nanlinghu Formation (China) by Wang et al. (2026).
Other chelicerates NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesMagnicornaspisGen. et sp. novBicknell, Kimmig, Goodman, Turner & SmithCambrian Stage 10Rivière-du-Loup Formation()A corcoraniid chelicerate. The type species is M. garwoodi.MegacheliceraxGen. et sp. novValidLerosey-Aubril & Ortega-HernándezCambrianWheeler Shale()A stem-chelicerate. The type species is M. cousteaui.
Other chelicerate research New information on the anatomy and affinities of the stem-chelicerate Urokodia aequalis is provided by Liu et al. (2026).
Crustaceans
Malacostracans NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityCountryNotesImagesBittnerilia lucentumensisSp. novValidArtal, Onetti & ÀlexEoceneA crab belonging to the family Calappidae.CiceroGen. et sp. novValidLima et al.Early Cretaceous (Aptian)Crato FormationAn isopod belonging to the family Archaeoniscidae. The type species is C. spectabilis.Clibanarius rosellaeSp. novValidDe Angeli, Garassino & CharbonnierEocene (Bartonian)A hermit crab belonging to the family Diogenidae.Crangopsis baljaffrayensisSp. novValidClarkCarboniferousA member of Peracarida belonging to the group Mysidacea. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as October 2025.Crangopsis carlopsensisSp. novValidClarkCarboniferousA member of Peracarida belonging to the group Mysidacea. Published online in 2026, but the issue date is listed as October 2025.EorhomalusGen. et sp. novValidDe Angeli, Garassino & CharbonnierEocene (Bartonian)A hermit crab belonging to the family Paguridae. Genus includes new species E. alontensis.Heterosquilla tankertonensisSp. novValidVeitchEocene (Ypresian)London ClayA mantis shrimp, a species of Heterosquilla.IberophthalmusGen. et sp. novValidFerratges & Zamora in Ferratges et al.Middle Jurassic (Bajocian)A crab belonging to the family Longodromitidae. The type species is I. leceraensis.Joeranina scheitziSp. novValidCharbonnier et al.Early Cretaceous (Albian)A crab belonging to the family Palaeocorystidae.Karumballichirus birmanicaComb. novValid(Noetling)MioceneA member of the family Callichiridae; moved from Callianassa birmanica Noetling (1901).Karumballichirus dijkiComb. novValid(Martin)MioceneA member of the family Callichiridae; moved from Callianassa dijki Martin (1883).Karumballichirus pseudoniloticusComb. novValid(Lőrenthey in Lőrenthey & Beurlen)EoceneA member of the family Callichiridae; moved from Callianassa pseudonilotica Lőrenthey in Lőrenthey & Beurlen (1929).Karumballichirus pustulatusComb. novValid(Withers)Eocene-OligoceneA member of the family Callichiridae; moved from Callianassa pustulata Withers (1926).Karumballichirus trechmanniComb. novValid(Withers)EoceneA member of the family Callichiridae; moved from Callianassa trechmanni Withers (1924).Karumballichirus vidaliComb. novValid(Vía Boada)EoceneA member of the family Callichiridae; moved from Callianassa vidali Vía Boada (1959).Latheticocarcinus sergeeviSp. novValidMychko & SchweitzerPaleocene (Thanetian)Saratov Formation()A crab belonging to the family Homolidae.LucentiplaxGen. et sp. novValidFerratgesEoceneA crab belonging to the family Euryplacidae. Genus includes new species L. bravoi.Nephropsis larryiSp. novValidZollinger & SchweitzerOligoceneLincoln Creek Formation()A species of Nephropsis.OrgianopsusGen. et sp. novValidDe Angeli & GarassinoEoceneA crab belonging to the group Grapsoidea. Genus includes new species O. bericus.Paranecrocarcinus perchatiSp. novValidCharbonnier et al.Early Cretaceous (Albian)A crab belonging to the family Necrocarcinidae.Pinnotheres prochownikiSp. novGroff et al.Miocene()A crab belonging to the family Pinnotheridae.Polybius appeldoornaeSp. novValidCoole & De AngeliMioceneA crab, a species of Polybius.Pygocephalus brymboensisSp. novValidAstropCarboniferousCoal Measures GroupA member of Pygocephalomorpha.Rathbunopon brisaciSp. novValidCharbonnier et al.Early Cretaceous (Albian)A crab belonging to the group Homolodromioidea and the family Prosopidae.Tanidromites ciceroidesSp. novValidFerratges & Zamora in Ferratges et al.Middle Jurassic (Bajocian)A crab belonging to the family Tanidromitidae.Tanidromites monevaensisSp. novValidFerratges & Zamora in Ferratges et al.Middle Jurassic (Bajocian)A crab belonging to the family Tanidromitidae.VolgacarcinusGen. et sp. novValidMychko & SchweitzerPaleocene (Thanetian)Saratov Formation()A crab belonging to the family Necrocarcinidae. The type species is V. longispinus.
Malacostracan research Evidence of sexual dimorphism in the length and shape of the carapace of Soomicaris ordosensis is presented by Liu et al. (2026). Revision of pygocephalomorphs belonging to the genus Pygocephalus from the Carboniferous strata from Nova Scotia (Canada) is published by Laville, Andréo & Atkins (2026).