The spiriferid genus Intermedites occurs in Middle Devonian strata of North Africa, Western and Central Europe and has hitherto been considered a descendent of Arduspirifer, an Early Devonian brachiopod genus present in the same regions as Intermedites. Side-by-side comparison of Intermedites with European and Asian (South China and Vietnam) delthyridoid spiriferid genera shows that the root of Intermedites lies in the South Chinese group around Rostrospirifer and Otospirifer. Cladistical analysis supports this interpretation. Three-dimensional reconstructions using serial sections were made to show the morphological similarities and differences of the genera studied. The westwards migration of South Chinese spiriferids since the Late Emsian is a further demonstration of the loss of endemicity during Early Devonian time.