Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison discovered daddy longlegs have extra eyes, overturning previous assumptions about the species.

The discovery has significant implications for the understanding of arachnid evolution and suggests a reevaluation of their family tree.

Gainett, a post-doctoral researcher transitioning to Harvard Medical School, will continue to investigate the evolutionary impact of these findings.

Fieldwork in Brazil by Gainett supports the universality of the trait, indicating that the extra eyes are not limited to a single species of daddy longlegs.

The research prompts a new direction in studying arachnid eye evolution, presenting more questions to be explored.