Phalangiotarbi


Phalangiotarbi is an extinct arachnid order first recorded from the Early Devonian of Germany and most widespread in the Upper Carboniferous coal measures of Europe and North America. The last species are known from the early Permian Rotliegendof Germany.
The affinities of phalangiotarbids are obscure, with most authors favouring affinities with Opiliones and/or Acari. Phalangiotarbida has been recently proposed to be sister group to : the taxon Megoperculata sensu Shultz.
Nemastomoides depressus, described as a harvestman in the family Nemastomoididae, is actually a poorly preserved phalangiotarbid.

Names

The order is also called Phalangiotarbida, the ending -ida originated when Petrunkevitch tried to standardize the endings of the arachnid orders, which is unnecessary and unwarranted according to the ICZN. Nevertheless, Phalangiotarbida has become the more widespread usage in the recent literature.
Architarbi Petrunkevitch, 1945 is a synonym.

Taxa included