Xenarachne

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Xenarachne
Temporal range: Lower Devonian (Emsian) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Clade: Tetrapulmonata
Genus:† Xenarachne
Dunlop & Poschmann, 1997
Type species
†Xenarachne willwerathensis
Dunlop & Poschmann, 1997

Xenarachne is an enigmatic extinct genus of arachnid that lived in Germany during the Emsian stage of the lower Devonian period. [1] This genus contains one species, Xenarachne willwerathensis. [2] [3] It was named by Dunlop & Poschmann in 1997.

Taxonomy

While it was placed into Tetrapulmonata (a clade of arachnids including spiders), its taxonomic placement is unknown making it an enigmatic taxon. While it has some similarities with the whip spiders (Amblypygi), it could also represent a genus of very early spider. [1]

Reference

  1. 1 2 3 Dunlop, Jason A.; Poschmann, Markus (1997-09-01). "On the Emsian (Lower Devonian) arthropods of the Rhenish Schiefergebirge: 1.Xenarachne, an enigmatic arachnid from Willwerath, Germany" . Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 71 (3): 231–236. doi:10.1007/BF02988492.
  2. ↑ "PBDB Taxon". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  3. ↑ "Mindat.org". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
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