Trigonotarbid arachnids from the Lower Devonian (Siegenian) of Burdenbach (Lahrbach Valley, Westerwald area, Rhenish Slate Mountains, Germany)

An association of trigonotarbid arachnids from Siegenian strata of Burdenbach in the Westerwald is described. The Burdenbach trigonotarbids are numerically dominated by a new genus and species, Spinocharinus steinmeyeri n. gen. n. sp., which is characterized by a rounded carapace with a unique pattern of thorn-like tubercles. A comparison with previously described Devonian trigonotarbids suggests that the new taxon is most probably assignable to the family Palaeocharinidae, which is well represented by the genus Palaeocharinus from the Scottish Rhynie cherts. This would constitute the first record of Palaeocharinidae from the Rhenish Devonian and contrasts sharply with previously described Emsian associations from the Rhenish Slate Mountains, which are dominated by archaeomartids. A rare archaeomartid, Archaeomartus cf. levis, occurs in association with the putative palaeocharinids.