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Trigonotarbid arachnids from the Lower Devonian (Lower Emsian) of Alken an der Mosel (Rhineland-Palatinate, SW Germany)

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Abstract

New material of the trigonotarbids Alkenia and Archaeomartus from the Lower Devonian type locality Alken an der Mosel/Germany is described. Størmer’s original description of Alkenia is essentially confirmed and supplemented. The genus is placed in Aphantomartidae. In contrast to earlier accounts, we show that Archaeomartus has an anterior diplotergite and a longitudinally three-divided posteriormost (ninth) tergite. The new family Archaeomartidae is proposed. Whether a marginal row of larger tubercles on the opisthosoma can be recognized is strongly influenced by the taphonomic history of the fossil, and sexual dimorphism may also be involved. Thus, we propose that Archaeomartus levis and A. tuberculatus, which can be discriminated solely by the presence or absence of this feature, are synonyms. Furthermore, morphological similarity suggests the possibility that archaeomartids, with their opisthosomal tergites divided into three plates, gave rise to the later (Carboniferous) anthracomartids, specifically through the division of the lateral plates and the ninth tergite. Finally, our reassessment of Archaeomartus shows that ‘A.’ roessleri Dunlop and Brauckmann, 2006 can no longer be adequately maintained in this genus. This younger species from the early Upper Carboniferous of Hagen-Vorhalle, Germany, is reassigned to Namurotarbus n. gen. as Namurotarbus roessleri n. comb.

Kurzfassung

Neue Funde der Trigonotarbiden Alkenia und Archaeomartus aus dem Unterdevon der Typuslokalität Alken an der Mosel werden bearbeitet. Størmers ursprüngliche Beschreibung von Alkenia wird im Wesentlichen bestätigt und ergänzt. Die Gattung wird in die Familie Aphantomartidae gestellt. Im Gegensatz zu früher geäußerten Ansichten können wir zeigen, dass Archaeomartus einen vorderen Diplotergit und einen dreigeteilten letzten (neunten) Tergit besitzt. Die neue Familie Archaeomartidae wird vorgeschlagen. Die Erkennbarkeit einer Reihe von größeren Tuberkeln entlang des Opisthosoma-Randes variiert stark in Abhängigkeit von taphonomischen Faktoren. Zudem könnte sich in der Ausprägung dieses Merkmals ein möglicher Sexualdimorphismus abzeichnen. Archaeomartus levis und A. tuberculatus, die sich nur anhand dieses einen Merkmals unterscheiden lassen, werden folglich als synonym angesehen. Darüber hinaus legt die große morphologische Übereinstimmung die Möglichkeit nahe, dass sich ausgehend von den Archaeomartiden mit dreigeteilten, opisthosomalen Tergiten die jüngeren (karbonischen) Anthracomartiden entwickelt haben, was insbesondere mit einer weiteren Teilung der Lateralplatten und des neunten Tergiten einherging. Schließlich zeigt unsere Neuuntersuchung von Archaeomartus, dass „A.” roessleri Dunlop and Brauckmann, 2006 nicht länger der Gattung zugeordnet werden kann. Diese Art aus dem frühen Oberkarbon von Hagen-Vorhalle, Deutschland wird in die neue Gattung Namurotarbus n. gen. als Namurotarbus roessleri n. comb. gestellt.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Richard Bersch (Rübenach) for donating specimen PWL2009/5052-LS at M.P.’s disposal and Olaf Vogel (Eveshausen) for the loan of material from his private collection. The helpful comments of three anonymous reviewers are greatly acknowledged.

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

    Markus Poschmann

  2. Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity, Humboldt University of 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 (Lower Emsian) of Alken an der Mosel (Rhineland-Palatinate, SW Germany). Paläontol Z 84, 467–484 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-010-0061-1

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