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Flagellopantopus
Flagellopantopus is an extinct genus of pycnogonid (sea spider) arthropod known from the lower Devonian aged Hunsrück Slate. A single species is currently known, Flagellopantopus blocki, which was described from the Emsian aged Kaub Formation in Germany.
F. blocki differs from other members of the Pycnogonida by possessing an extremely elongated telson, which was flagelliform in appearance. This animal was fairly large for a pycnogonid, with the whole body of the arthropod measuring around 26 mm (1.0 in) long, while the telson itself was around 66 mm (2.6 in) long. In its 2006 description, Poschmann and Dunlop placed Flagellopantopus into the order Pantopoda (which includes modern sea spiders). However, later publications have put doubt on this interpretation, and have suggested a new placement as a member of Pycnogonida incertae sedis. It is currently assumed to have lived a benthic lifestyle, as it lacks the flattened appendages and setae that pelagic species of pycnogonids typically have.
The holotype (and only known) specimen of this pycnogonid, NHMMZ PWL 2004/5024-LS, was first described by Poschmann in 2004 for Project Nahecaris, but was considered a nomen nudum due to the lack of a diagnosis. The specimen would later be given a proper diagnosis and description in 2006. The holotype specimen originates from the Kaub Formation, which is dated to the Emsian stage of the lower Devonian, but the exact locality of origin is uncertain. Poschmann and Dunlop (2006) state that the fossil was recovered from the Wingertshell Member, within the larger Obereschenbach quarry, near the municipality of Bundenbach. However, the administration housing the fossil, the Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz, states that the specimen originates from the Eschenbach-Bocksberg quarry.
The arthropod's genus name, Flagellopantopus, is derived from the Latin word flagella, meaning "whip", which was named after the elongated telson possessed by the genus, and the pycnogonid order Pantopoda, which is derived from the Latin words pant and poda, meaning "all feet". The specific name, blocki, is in honour of Helmut Block, who donated the holotype for public viewing and research.
Flagellopantopus was relatively large compared to most other pycnogonids, with the main body (excluding telson) of the arthropod measuring around 26 mm (1.0 in) long. There are 5 dorsal tubercles located across the cephalon and trunk segments, with the first one represent ocular tubercle. By far the most distinguishing trait of this taxon was its extremely elongated telson (flagella), which measured around 66 mm (2.6 in) long, nearly three times longer than the arthropods main body. The telson was preceded by a 4-segmented abdomen, which possess a pair of long projections at the second abdominal segment.
Like most other pycnogonids, this genus possessed four pairs of walking legs that had at least a 90 mm (3.5 in) arm-span. Each leg possess an annulated coxa 1 and immobile junction between segment 4-5 similar to Palaeopantopus, while the distal regions (tibia and tarsal region) are not preserved. Coxa 1 of the first leg pair possess a long projection.
All 3 pairs of cephalic appendages (chelifores, palps, ovigers) are evident, but most of the details are obscured by their poor preservation. Distal region of the oviger showing 6 segments (possibly patella, tibia, and 4 tarsal segments) and a terminal claw.
The proboscis of this taxon is partially obscured, and how it connected to the rest of the cephalic region is uncertain. The proboscis itself had a pyriform appearance and was roughly 6 mm (0.24 in) long, and had a width of around 4 mm (0.16 in) wide.
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Flagellopantopus
Flagellopantopus is an extinct genus of pycnogonid (sea spider) arthropod known from the lower Devonian aged Hunsrück Slate. A single species is currently known, Flagellopantopus blocki, which was described from the Emsian aged Kaub Formation in Germany.
F. blocki differs from other members of the Pycnogonida by possessing an extremely elongated telson, which was flagelliform in appearance. This animal was fairly large for a pycnogonid, with the whole body of the arthropod measuring around 26 mm (1.0 in) long, while the telson itself was around 66 mm (2.6 in) long. In its 2006 description, Poschmann and Dunlop placed Flagellopantopus into the order Pantopoda (which includes modern sea spiders). However, later publications have put doubt on this interpretation, and have suggested a new placement as a member of Pycnogonida incertae sedis. It is currently assumed to have lived a benthic lifestyle, as it lacks the flattened appendages and setae that pelagic species of pycnogonids typically have.
The holotype (and only known) specimen of this pycnogonid, NHMMZ PWL 2004/5024-LS, was first described by Poschmann in 2004 for Project Nahecaris, but was considered a nomen nudum due to the lack of a diagnosis. The specimen would later be given a proper diagnosis and description in 2006. The holotype specimen originates from the Kaub Formation, which is dated to the Emsian stage of the lower Devonian, but the exact locality of origin is uncertain. Poschmann and Dunlop (2006) state that the fossil was recovered from the Wingertshell Member, within the larger Obereschenbach quarry, near the municipality of Bundenbach. However, the administration housing the fossil, the Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz, states that the specimen originates from the Eschenbach-Bocksberg quarry.
The arthropod's genus name, Flagellopantopus, is derived from the Latin word flagella, meaning "whip", which was named after the elongated telson possessed by the genus, and the pycnogonid order Pantopoda, which is derived from the Latin words pant and poda, meaning "all feet". The specific name, blocki, is in honour of Helmut Block, who donated the holotype for public viewing and research.
Flagellopantopus was relatively large compared to most other pycnogonids, with the main body (excluding telson) of the arthropod measuring around 26 mm (1.0 in) long. There are 5 dorsal tubercles located across the cephalon and trunk segments, with the first one represent ocular tubercle. By far the most distinguishing trait of this taxon was its extremely elongated telson (flagella), which measured around 66 mm (2.6 in) long, nearly three times longer than the arthropods main body. The telson was preceded by a 4-segmented abdomen, which possess a pair of long projections at the second abdominal segment.
Like most other pycnogonids, this genus possessed four pairs of walking legs that had at least a 90 mm (3.5 in) arm-span. Each leg possess an annulated coxa 1 and immobile junction between segment 4-5 similar to Palaeopantopus, while the distal regions (tibia and tarsal region) are not preserved. Coxa 1 of the first leg pair possess a long projection.
All 3 pairs of cephalic appendages (chelifores, palps, ovigers) are evident, but most of the details are obscured by their poor preservation. Distal region of the oviger showing 6 segments (possibly patella, tibia, and 4 tarsal segments) and a terminal claw.
The proboscis of this taxon is partially obscured, and how it connected to the rest of the cephalic region is uncertain. The proboscis itself had a pyriform appearance and was roughly 6 mm (0.24 in) long, and had a width of around 4 mm (0.16 in) wide.