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A new large edrioasteroid from the Seifen Formation of the Westerwald, Rhenish Massif (Lower Devonian, Germany)

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Abstract

A large new edrioasteroid genus from the Seifen Formation (Lower Devonian, Germany), Seifenia gen. nov., is introduced. The type species, S. ostara sp. nov., is described and figured, and its systematic position is discussed. Seifenia shows a highly derived evolutionary position in comparison with other Lower Devonian genera. With a diameter up to 57 mm, it is the largest known domal genus of the Agelacrinitidae. Most specimens of S. ostara are not found in contact with the substrate. Possible reasons for this phenomenon are discussed. Furthermore, synecological interactions of Seifenia with brachiopods and auloporid corals are documented.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Ralph Seibert (Ransbach-Baumbach) for the opportunity to study this important material and for being able to deposit specimens in the Landessammlung für Naturkunde Rheinland-Pfalz (Mainz). Many thanks also to Ulrich Jansen (Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Frankfurt) for detailed information about brachiopods. Help with the English text was provided by Markus Poschmann (Koblenz). We are especially grateful to the reviewers Thomas E. Guensburg (Field Museum Chicago, Illinois), Colin Sumrall (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee) and Mike Reich (Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich) for their helpful comments on this text.

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  1. Am Grauen Stein 4, 56244, Freilingen, Germany

    Peter Müller

  2. Berliner Straße 31, 35282, Rauschenberg, Germany

    Gerhard Hahn

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  1. Peter Müller
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  2. Gerhard Hahn
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Correspondence to Peter Müller.

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Handling Editor: Mike Reich.

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Müller, P., Hahn, G. A new large edrioasteroid from the Seifen Formation of the Westerwald, Rhenish Massif (Lower Devonian, Germany). PalZ 94, 715–724 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-020-00526-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-020-00526-7

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