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Chelicerate arthropods, including the oldest phalangiotarbid arachnid, from the Early Devonian (Siegenian) of the Rhenish Massif, Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2016

Markus Poschmann ,
Lyall I. Anderson  and
Jason A. Dunlop
Markus Poschmann
Affiliation:
Department for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Rhineland-Palatinate (Section for Geological Sites), Große Langgasse 29, D-55116 Mainz, Germany,
Lyall I. Anderson
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Zoology, National Museums of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, United Kingdom,
Jason A. Dunlop
Affiliation:
Institut für Systematische Zoologie, Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstr. 43, D-10115 Berlin, Germany,
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Abstract

A relatively diverse chelicerate fauna has been detected in Early Devonian, Siegenian strata of the Westerwald area, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The arachnids, comprising trigonotarbids and the oldest phalangiotarbids, are described and figured here along with the chasmataspidids. To accomodate the phalangiotarbid a new genus and species in the family Architarbidae, Devonotarbus hombachensis, is raised. Devonotarbus n. gen. is characterized by an approximately straight posterior carapace margin, abbreviated and undivided anterior tergites, a large sixth tergite, and fused posterior tergites. The chasmataspidid closely resembles Diploaspis casteri from the Emsian assemblage of Alken an der Mosel, but is readily discernible as a new species, D. muelleri, by a strong tuberculation of its dorsal integument. With only fragmentary opisthosomal remains available, the trigonotarbids cannot be placed in known taxa with any certainty at this time.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 79 , Issue 1 , January 2005 , pp. 110 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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