The following is a list of the Rhynie chert arthropod fauna that have been described to date.
A controversial arthropod known from the remains of a single specimen, Rhyniognatha hirsti (Tillyard 1928), is now believed to be closely related to the pterygote insects based on the structure of it's mandibles (Engel & Grimaldi 2004). Also included for completeness is an arthropod of uncertain affinities; Rhynimonstrum dunlopi (Anderson & Trewin 2003). Discoveries of new elements of the Rhynie fauna have recently been made, and once described and published with be added to this list in due course.
Click on the image thumbnails for a close up.
- Trigonotarbids
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Species Described from the Rhynie chert
- Palaeocharinus rhyniensis
- Palaeocharinus hornei
- Palaeocharinus tuberculatus
- *Palaeocteniza crassipes
*Note: A single specimen of a tiny arachnid described from the chert by Hirst (1923), Palaeocteniza crassipes, as being related to modern trap-door spiders is now regarded as a juvenile trigonotarbid (Selden et al. 1991).
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General FeaturesExtinct arachnids similar in appearance to spiders but lacking spinnerets and possessing a segmented abdomen.
Palaeoecology
Predator, living in terrestrial habitats. Often found in plant-rich beds, occasionally within empty sporangia and hollow plant stems.
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- Harvestmen
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Species Described from the Rhynie chert
- Eophalangium sheari
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General Features
Arachnids lacking a distinct division between the head and body, with a segmented abdomen. Typically possess a small ovoid body with long slender legs.
Palaeoecology
Predator / saprovore / detritivore, living in damp terrestrial habitats, mostly in plant litter.
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- Mites
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Species Described from the Rhynie chert
- Protacarus crani
- Protospeleorchestes pseudoprotacarus
- Pseudoprotacarus scoticus
- Palaeotydeus devonicus
- Paraprotocarus hirsti
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General Features
Very small arachnids that lack a distinct division between the head and the body and have a smooth abdomen.
Palaeoecology
Micro-herbivore / saprovore, living in damp terrestrial habitats, primarily in plant litter and soil. Some probably also fed on sap from living plants. Occasionally found within empty sporangia.
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- Myriapods
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Species Described from the Rhynie chert
- Crussolum sp.
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General Features
A centipede similar to the modern house centipede, possessing strong poison jaws or 'forcipules', long antennae and 15 pairs of long multi-segmented walking legs.
Palaeoecology
Active predator, living in damp terrestrial habitats, such as in soils, plant litter and under stones.
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Species Described from the Rhynie chert
Leverhulmia mariae
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Anderson & Trewin 2003
General Features
A small myriapodous arthropod with at least 5 pairs of walking legs, each with densely crowded hairs or setae on the posterior of the last (tarsal) segment.
Palaeoecology
Saprovore / detritivore, living in damp terrestrial habitats, most probably in plant litter.
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- Hexapods
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Species Described from the Rhynie chert
- Rhyniella praecursor
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General Features
A springtail (Collembola), with 3 pairs of legs, an abdomen of 6 segments, possessing a furcula or jumping organ on the 4th abdominal segment and a curious ventral tube on the 1st abdominal segment.
Palaeoecology
Saprovore, living in damp terrestrial habitats, particularly in plant litter and soil.
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Species Described from the Rhynie chert
- Rhyniognatha hirsti
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General Features
The earliest known pterygote insect. Known only from the fragmentary mouthparts of one specimen, comprising a pair of robust mandibles with bladed tooth-like structures. Although fossil evidence is so far lacking, Rhyniognatha may have possessed primitive wings.
Palaeoecology
Comparing the jaws with those of modern insects, Rhyniognatha may have fed on higher plant tissues.
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- Crustaceans
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Species Described from the Rhynie chert
- Lepidocaris rhyniensis
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General Features
A small multi-segmented crustacean with 10 pairs of biramous leaf-like trunk appendages, long biramous antennae with plumose setae and lacking a cephalic shield in adults. Maxillae modified and look like the first 2 pairs of trunk limbs.
Palaeoecology
Micro-herbivore / detritivore, living in ephemeral freshwater ponds.
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Species Described from the Rhynie chert
- Castracollis wilsonae
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General Features
8mm long, multisegmented crustacean. Thorax of up to 26 somites, each bearing legs. Up to 28 apodous abdominal segments. 2 series of thoracic legs. Anterior series: 11 pairs of long raptorial legs. Posterior series: 10-15 pairs of smaller phyllopodous legs. Head with large mandibles and long, symmetrical, biramous second antennae.
Palaeoecology
Similar to modern Tadpole Shrimps - detritivore / carnivore, living in ephemeral freshwater ponds.
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- Euthycarcinoids
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Species Described from the Rhynie chert
- Heterocrania rhyniensis
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General Features
Multi-segmented arthropod sharing features with crustaceans and myriapods. Body comprises 5 large dorsal segments, each with 2 corresponding ventral segments that bear a pair of multi-segmented legs.
Palaeoecology
Micro-herbivore / detritivore, living in ephemeral freshwater ponds.
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- Arthropoda incertae sedis
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Species Described from the Rhynie chert
- Rhynimonstrum dunlopi
Useful Texts
Anderson & Trewin 2003
General Features
Articulated tubular segments of cuticle, the leading edge of each with a ring of sockets for spines or setae. Sometimes associated with sheets of punctate cuticle and clusters of long robust setae.
Palaeoecology
Unknown
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