Xenarachne

Xenarachne is an enigmatic extinct genus of arachnid that lived in Germany during the Emsian stage of the lower Devonian period.^[1] This genus contains one species, Xenarachne willwerathensis.^[2][3] It was named by Dunlop & Poschmann in 1997.

Xenarachne Temporal range: Lower Devonian (Emsian)[1] PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Clade:	Tetrapulmonata
Genus:	†Xenarachne Dunlop & Poschmann, 1997
Type species
†Xenarachne willwerathensis Dunlop & Poschmann, 1997

Taxonomy

See also: Evolution of spiders

While it was placed into Tetrapulmonata (a clade of arachnids including spiders), its taxonomic placement is unknown making it an enigmatic taxon. While it has some similarities with the whip spiders (Amblypygi), it could also represent a genus of very early spider.^[1]