An Upper Carboniferous amblypygid from the Writhlington Geological Nature Reserve


Jason A. Dunlop
Department of Geology, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL

The first amblypygid (Arachnida: Amblypygi) from the Writhlington Geological Nature Reserve (Upper Carboniferous, Westphalian D) is described. The ventral opisthosoma and the posterior walking legs are relatively complete. This small, possibly juvenile specimen is tentatively identified as Protophrynus carbonarius? Petrunkevitch, 1913. The taxonomy of Carboniferous amblypygids is reviewed and the genera Thelyphrynus and Protophrynus are discussed as potential synonyms of the genus Graeophonus. Carboniferous amblypygids resemble Recent forms and appear to represent 'living fossils'. However, there are problems reconciling characters used in fossil and Recent amblypygid taxonomy.

Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 105, 245-250 (1994)

Author's comments:

No comment, though I should remind myself to revise Carboniferous amblypygids eventually
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