Amber is fossilised resin, often from conifer trees that lived millions of years ago. Released from the trees' bark in response to injury, this viscous liquid would, on occasion, envelope animals before hardening, entombing gnats, flies, spiders and even lizards.
Today, some of these creatures can still be found inside the amber, almost unchanged from the day they became encased. They can look spectacular, as this set of images proves.
Top image: fungus gnat in amber. Credit: Getty
More amazing wildlife stories from around the world
- “Greater detail than ever before.” Ancient creature found immaculately entombed in amber
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