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Review
. 2018 Feb 5;373(1739):20160493.
doi: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0493.

Terrestrial invertebrates in the Rhynie chert ecosystem

Jason A Dunlop  1 , Russell J Garwood  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Terrestrial invertebrates in the Rhynie chert ecosystem

Jason A Dunlop et al. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. .

Abstract

The Early Devonian Rhynie and Windyfield cherts remain a key locality for understanding early life and ecology on land. They host the oldest unequivocal nematode worm (Nematoda), which may also offer the earliest evidence for herbivory via plant parasitism. The trigonotarbids (Arachnida: Trigonotarbida) preserve the oldest book lungs and were probably predators that practiced liquid feeding. The oldest mites (Arachnida: Acariformes) are represented by taxa which include mycophages and predators on nematodes today. The earliest harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones) includes the first preserved tracheae, and male and female genitalia. Myriapods are represented by a scutigeromorph centipede (Chilopoda: Scutigeromorpha), probably a cursorial predator on the substrate, and a putative millipede (Diplopoda). The oldest springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) were probably mycophages, and another hexapod of uncertain affinities preserves a gut infill of phytodebris. The first true insects (Hexapoda: Insecta) are represented by a species known from chewing (non-carnivorous?) mandibles. Coprolites also provide insights into diet, and we challenge previous assumptions that several taxa were spore-feeders. Rhynie appears to preserve a largely intact community of terrestrial animals, although some expected groups are absent. The known fossils are (ecologically) consistent with at least part of the fauna found around modern Icelandic hot springs.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The Rhynie cherts: our earliest terrestrial ecosystem revisited'.

Keywords: Arachnida; Devonian; Hexapoda; Myriapoda; Nematoda; Rhynie chert.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare we have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Nematode worms and arachnids from Rhynie. (a) Palaeonema phyticum Poinar, Kerp & Hass, 2008 (Nematoda: Enoplia). (b,c) Palaeocharinus spp. (Arachnida: Trigonotarbida). (d,e) Two examples of mites (Arachnida: Acariformes). (f–h) Eophalangium sheari Dunlop, Anderson, Kerp & Hass, 2004 (Arachnida: Opiliones). (i) Saccogulus seldeni Dunlop, Fayers, Hass & Kerp, 2006 (Arachnida incertae sedis).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Myriapods, hexapods and coprolites from Rhynie and Windyfield. (a,b) Limb elements of Crussolum sp. (Chilopoda: Scutigeromorpha). (c) Rhynimonstrum dunlopi Anderson & Trewin, 2003 (Arthropoda incertae sedis, possibly Diplopoda?). (d) Head capsule of Rhyniella preacursor Hirst & Maulik, 1926 (Hexapoda: Collembola). (e) Rhyniognatha hirsti Tillyard, 1928 (Hexapoda: affinities equivocal). (f) Leverhulmia mariae Anderson & Trewin, 2003 (probably Hexapoda). (g–i) Coprolites of the Lancifex Habgood, Hass & Kerp, 2004 type including amorphous (g) and spore-rich (h,i) contents.
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