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Trigonotarbid arachnids from the Lower Devonian (Siegenian) of Bürdenbach (Lahrbach Valley, Westerwald area, Rhenish Slate Mountains, Germany)

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Abstract

An association of trigonotarbid arachnids from Siegenian strata of Bürdenbach in the Westerwald is described. The Bürdenbach trigonotarbids are numerically dominated by a new genus and species, Spinocharinus steinmeyeri n. gen. n. sp., which is characterized by a rounded carapace with a unique pattern of thorn-like tubercles. A comparison with previously described Devonian trigonotarbids suggests that the new taxon is most probably assignable to the family Palaeocharinidae, which is well represented by the genus Palaeocharinus from the Scottish Rhynie cherts. This would constitute the first record of Palaeocharinidae from the Rhenish Devonian and contrasts sharply with previously described Emsian associations from the Rhenish Slate Mountains, which are dominated by archaeomartids. A rare archaeomartid, Archaeomartus cf. levis, occurs in association with the putative palaeocharinids.

Kurzfassung

Eine Assoziation trigonotarbider Spinnentiere aus dem Siegenium von Bürdenbach im Westerwald wird beschrieben. Diese Trigonotarbiden-Assoziation wird zahlenmäßig von einer neuen Art in einer neuen Gattung, Spinocharinus steinmeyeri n. gen. n. sp., dominiert, die durch einen abgerundeten Carapax mit einer einzigartigen Verzierung aus kräftigen, dornenartigen Tuberkeln charakterisiert wird. Ein Vergleich mit bereits bekannten devonischen Trigonotarbiden zeigt große morphologische Übereinstimmungen mit der Familie Palaeocharinidae, die insbesondere durch die Gattung Palaeocharinus aus den schottischen Rhynie Cherts gut bekannt ist. Dies würde den ersten Nachweis von Palaeochariniden für das Rheinische Devon darstellen und kontrastiert mit früher bekannt gewordenen Trigonotarbiden-Vergesellschaftungen aus dem Rheinischen Schiefergebirge mit einem Emsium-Alter, die von Archaeomartiden dominiert werden. In Assoziation mit den mutmaßlichen Palaeochariniden tritt der seltene Archaeomartide Archaeomartus cf. levis auf.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Peter Müller (Langenhahn) and Reinhard Steinmeyer (Koblenz) for useful discussions and for donating important fossils to a public collection. Without their enthusiasm this study would not have been possible. The thoughtful reviews by Russell Garwood (London) and an anonymous reviewer served to improve this contribution. MP thanks Michael Wuttke (Mainz) for his support.

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  1. Direktion Landesarchäologie, Referat Erdgeschichte, Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe RLP, Große Langgasse 29, 55116, Mainz, Germany

    Markus Poschmann

  2. Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstr. 43, 10115, Berlin, Germany

    Jason A. Dunlop

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  1. Markus Poschmann
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Correspondence to Markus Poschmann.

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Poschmann, M., Dunlop, J.A. Trigonotarbid arachnids from the Lower Devonian (Siegenian) of Bürdenbach (Lahrbach Valley, Westerwald area, Rhenish Slate Mountains, Germany). Paläontol Z 85, 433–447 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-011-0109-x

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