Strophomenid brachiopods from the Rhenish Lower Devonian (Germany)

Early Devonian Strophomenida (Brachiopoda) from the Rhenish Slate Mountains (Germany) are described. Three genera are introduced as new: Gigastropheodonta [type species: Leptaena (Strophomena) gigas McCoy, 1852], Rhenostropheodonta (type species: R. rhenana gen. nov. et sp. nov.) and Gibbodouvillina (type species: Strophomena taeniolata G.&F. Sandberger, 1856). The diagnosis of the poorly known genus Boucotstrophia Jahnke, 1981 (type species: Stropheodonta herculea Drevermann, 1904) is revised. These and several further taxa are briefly discussed with regard to phylogenetic relationships, palaeobiogeographical implications, palaeobiological aspects and stratigraphical significance.