Life in the Devonian – Leben im Devon

Preface by Prof. Dr. J. Rust (Steinmann Institut, Universität Bonn, invertebrate palaeontologist) 7
Preface by Wouter Südkamp  8 Acknowledgements  8
1. Introduction  9
What is Hunsrück Slate?  9
Paleoecology  11
Occurrence  12
Fossil-Lagerstätte  13
Taphonomy  13
Age  14
Preparation  16
Abbrevations  18
2. Plants  20
Algae  20
Vascular plants  21
Problematic plant  23
3. Sponges  24
4. Cnidarians  28
Jellyfish  28
Conulariids  29
Further polyp from scyphozoans  31
Corals  32
5. Molluscs  35
Snails  35
Bivalves  39
Cephalopods  45
Nautiloids  46
Ammonoids  47
6. Tentaculitoids  51
Dacryoconarida  52
Tentaculita  53
7. Brachiopods  54
Inarticulate brachiopods  54
Articulate brachiopods  56
8. Bryozoans  66
9. Annelids  68
10. Arthropods  73
Euarthropoda  74
Chelicerates  77
Crustaceanomorpha  83
Malacostraca  83
Phyllocarid crustaceans  83
Crustacean with eumalacastracan affinities  86
Euarthropoda of uncertain affinity  87
Trilobites  88
11. Echinoderms  97
Homolazoans  97
Cystoids  101
Blastoids  101
Crinoids  102
Edrioasteroids  119
Asterozoans  120
Asteroids  123
Stenuroids  127
Ophiuroids  132
Echinoids  144
Holothurians  146
12. Fishes  149
Agnathans  150
Placoderms  150
Acanthodians  155
Coprolites  155
13. Traces and marks  157
Traces  157
Marks  169
University and museum collections  172
Repositories  172
Index of fossils  173
Photo credit  175
Curriculum vitae of the author  176

The idea for this book dates from the late nineteen seventies, just as I started collecting slate fossils at Bundenbach. Up until today, there is no work that targets the identification and complete summary of the renowned Hunsrück Slate fossils. Now is the right moment to publish such a book: 1 The unique fossil finds of the nineteen nineties from the Bundenbach quarry Obereschenbach are scientifically described for the most part (among others annelids and arthropods). 2 My systematic fossil collecting at old tip heaps within and outside the fossiliferous layers gives a fairly representative idea of life at that time. 3 No new finds can be expected, because a resumption of slate mining in the so-called Lagerstätte is unlikely (imported slate from abroad). In this book several specimens from private as well as museum collections are shown for the first time, including many fossils never previously-portrayed (in a book). Among them are not only aesthetically appealing specimens but also the smaller fossils, frequently overlooked by the splitters. As well, I attach great importance to stories behind the fossil associations. Although these do not necessarily contribute to the taxonomic assignment, I want to enlighten the reader on the living conditions in the Hunsrück Sea of that time. Over 150 years of intensive production of roof-slate and scientific research does not guarantee that this book can be totally comprehensive. Specific (rare) fossils, like sponges, asterozoans and crinoids await (re)description. Partly I anticipate this matter, as I describe fossils in open nomenclature (?rhizostomoid scyphomedusa) or in normal type (sponge Nodosia and brittle star Eschenbachia) or classify in another genus (mitrate Anatifopsis). So, these descriptions must be considered as preliminary. I hope that this book encourages further research and leads people to appreciate and notice these spectacular witnesses of earlier life more.

Wouter Südkamp, im Dezember 2016

Palaeontology deals with the organisms of prehistoric times and it is its task to reconstruct the history of life on the earth. Unfortunately, the fossil record is often incomplete and leaves many questions unanswered. Only in rare cases can we gain an immediate and unusually complete insight into former living spaces. This book reports on one of these rare lucky chances. The ca. 400 million years old Hunsrück Slate belongs to the remarkable fossil sites of the world and is the most important example of a conservation Lagerstätte for the marine Devonian. Fossils from the Hunsrück Slate are represented in all large museums of natural history of the world, and provide evidence of the variety of life forms in the seas from inconceivable ages ago. The author of this volume – Wouter Südkamp – is an enthusiastic collector, expert and experienced preparator of Hunsrück Slate fossils. He has, not only by his extensive collection activity but also by his own investigations of the fossils integrated with geology, in multiple ways contributed to the exploration of this world-famous fossil occurrence. In doing so, the Hunsrück Slate discloses its treasures, not without considerable resistance. The scientific value but also the aesthetics of the finds are shown to their fullest potential only after careful and patient preparations. In this field, Wouter Südkamp is one of the leading specialists, and his finds repeatly lead to a better understanding of the rich fauna and their life circumstances. In particular I want to emphasize, that he has always made his finds available for scientific study. This book is addressed to fossil collectors and to nature lovers in general, who are interested in deeper insights into the extraordinary habitat of 400 million years ago. This is the great value of this volume. It not only shows the enormous variety of life in the Devonian seas, but also the beauty of these life forms, as they are preserved for us as fossils. I hope that the book communicates to the readers something of the enthusiasm and fascination of paleontological research, and encourages further activities with fossils.

Prof. Dr. Jes Rust,

Steinmann-Institut für Geologie,

Mineralogie und Paläontologie,

Universität Bonn

This book could not have been materialized without the participation of scientists and amateur palaeontologists. Prof H. Kerp (Asterocalamites), Prof D. Blake (asterozoans), Prof H. Pfanz (sedimentary structures), Dr H. Van Iten (cnidarians), Dr U. Jansen (brachiopods), Dr C. Winkler Prins (molluscs and brachiopods), graduate geologist M. Alberti (trilobites) and R. Goßmann (plants) have assisted in the acquisition of literature and with the assignment. Dr G. Kühl (Bonn), Dr U. Jansen (Frankfurt), Dr C. Bartels (Kamen), M. van Bel (Bad Kreuznach), G. Beicht and M. Brzoska (both Bundenbach), L. Dreher (Griebelschied) and Mrs. C. Schumacher (Simmern) helped by the provision of the exhibits for photographing. C. Friis (Kottenheim) informed about finding localities in the “Moselschiefer”. The museum directors, -photographers and collectors, who offered to give up photos, can be taken from the photo credit. My wife R. Südkamp-Theis, Dr-Ing. H. J. Theis and Mrs. H. Koch took care of the correction of the German text. The English text was corrected by Mrs. Dr C. Burrow. I would like to thank all these participants for their efforts.

Wouter Südkamp, im Dezember 2016

Wouter Südkamp, born 1954, Dutchman, is a graduate geographer. He worked as management consultant for environmental matters in several organisations. He was active in the Dutch Geological Association and finally 7 years president of its largest regional association in Utrecht/’t Gooi. Since 1978 he is a specialist in collecting, preparing and describing his finds from the Hunsrück Slate. After his emigration to Bundenbach in 1996 he was able to increase this passion further. His extensive collection (nearly 1000 pieces) is stored in the Hunsrück-Museum at Simmern. He has written 25 contributions for the journal FOSSILIEN and 8 scientific papers. He is carrying out geological excursions with fossil and mineral hunts in Rhineland-Palatinate and is active in adult education. The author during collecting at a slate dump. – Photo: P. Stein, Koblenz.