OnAthyris (Brachiopoda) and its type species‘Terebratula’ concentrica von Buch

Abstract

From its creation (M’Coy 1844: 146) the nameAthyris has been widely used, although it has also been controversial. In addition, the concept ofTerebratula concentrica von Buch 1834 [the first species included byM’Coy inAthyris, and subsequently designated byKing (1850: 136) as type of the genus] has never been firmly established, because there were neither original figures nor was a type specimen selected. There is an even greater problem in thatAthyris is the type genus of the nominal family group, the Athyrididae, and the Suborder Athyrididina. The recommendation offered in the present paper is that theT. concentrica species concept, based on the original description byvon Buch (1834: 103–104), should be retained as type species ofAthyris. A neotype forT. concentrica is here selected and the species is redescribed (including the internal structures and a graphical reconstruction of the exterior following the precise description byvon Buch). Details on the type locality and horizon are provided. In a pictorial documentation the most important athyridid species from the Middle Devonian of the Eifel area are represented. TheAthyris taxa ofSteininger 1853,Quenstedt 1871, andEm.Kayser 1871 are revived and/or put more precisely according to the essentials in the respective original descriptions and are, as far as possible, defined by holo-, lecto-, or neotype specimens. The speciesAthyris (Alvarezites) gruntis andAthyris (Zonathyris) conchoides are described as new.