Aalenian

The Aalenian ( /ɑːˈlniən/) is a subdivision of the Middle Jurassic epoch/series of the geologic timescale that extends from about 174.1 Ma to about 170.3 Ma (million years ago). It was preceded by the Toarcian and succeeded by the Bajocian.[3]

Aalenian
174.1 ± 1.0 – 170.3 ± 1.4 Ma
The Aalenian GSSP in Spain
Chronology
Key events in the Jurassic
-200 
-195 
-190 
-185 
-180 
-175 
-170 
-165 
-160 
-155 
-150 
-145 
how to approximate the timescale of key Jurassic events.
Vertical axis: millions of years ago.
Etymology
Name formalityFormal
Usage information
Celestial bodyEarth
Regional usageGlobal (ICS)
Time scale(s) usedICS Time Scale
Definition
Chronological unitAge
Stratigraphic unitStage
Time span formalityFormal
Lower boundary definitionFAD of Ammonites Leioceras opalinum and Leioceras lineatum
Lower boundary GSSPFuentelsaz, Spain
41.1708°N 1.8333°W / 41.1708; -1.8333
GSSP ratified2000[1]
Upper boundary definitionFAD of the Ammonites Hyperlioceras mundum, Hyperlioceras furcatum, Braunsina aspera, and Braunsina elegantula
Upper boundary GSSPCabo Mondego, Portugal
40.1992°N 8.9042°W / 40.1992; -8.9042
GSSP ratified1996[2]

Stratigraphic definitions

The Aalenian takes its name from the town of Aalen, some 70 km east of Stuttgart in Germany. The town lies at the northeastern end of the Swabian Jura. The name Aalenian was introduced in scientific literature by Swiss geologist Karl Mayer-Eymar in 1864.

The base of the Aalenian is defined as the place in the stratigraphic column where the ammonite genus Leioceras first appears. The global reference profile (GSSP) is located 500 meters north of the village of Fuentelsaz in the Spanish province of Guadalajara.[4] The top of the Aalenian (the base of the Bajocian) is at the first appearance of ammonite genus Hyperlioceras.

In the Tethys domain, the Aalenian contains four ammonite biozones:

Palaeontology

†Ammonitids

Ammonitids of the Aalenian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images
Confirmed.[5] The only known species in this Alaskan genus. Abbasites is believed to be ancestral to the ammonite family Otoitidae.
Life restorations of two different ammonite genera.
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
  • Brasilia
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
  • Canavarella
Confirmed.[5]
  • Constileioceras
Confirmed.[5]
  • Cylioceras
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
  • Leioceras
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
  • Malladaites
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
  • Parammatoceras
Confirmed.[5]
  • Planammatoceras
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
  • Pseudammatoceras
Confirmed.[5]
  • Puchenquia
Confirmed.[5]
  • Reynesella
Confirmed.[5]
  • Sonninia
Confirmed.[5]
  • Spinammatoceras
Confirmed.[5]
  • Staufenia
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
  • Trilobiticeras
Confirmed.[5]
  • Tugurites
Confirmed.[5]

†Belemnites

Belemnites of the Aalenian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images
Confirmed.[5]
Belemnites.
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5] This Eurasian species was the largest known Belemnite and could grow to lengths of up to 10 feet (3.0 m).
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]
Confirmed.[5]

Bony fish

Bony fish of the Albian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images
Pliensbachian-Aalenian Europe (France, Belgium, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy) and North America (Canada) A saurichthyiid actinopterygian.

Ichthyosaurs

Ichthyosaurs of the Toarcian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images
Europe

†Thalattosuchians

Thalattosuchia of the Aalenian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images
  • Opisuchus
Germany A basal metriorhynchoid.

Sauropods

Sauropods of the Aalenian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images

"Bothriospondylus" madagascariensis

possibly a new genus

Theropods

Theropods of the Aalenian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images

Asfaltovenator

Toarcian-Bajocian Cañadón Asfalto Basin, Patagonia, Argentina A large basal carnosaur. The unique combination of characteristics seen in Asfaltovenator may indicate megalosauroids and allosauroids shared a common ancestor not shared with Coelurosauria.

Condorraptor

Aalenian-Bajocian Cañadón Asfalto Basin, Patagonia, Argentina It was among the earliest large South American theropods.
Condorraptor.

Magnosaurus

Aalenian-Bajocian Dorset, England Magnosaurus was one of the first megalosaurids to evolve.
Magnosaurus.

Shidaisaurus

Early Aalenian Chuanjie Formation, Yunnan, China A genus of early medium sized metriacanthosaurine allosauroid, estimated from around 6 to over 7 meters long and from 700 up to 950 kilograms in mass.

References

Notes

  1. Cresta, S.; Goy, A.; Arias, C.; Barrón, E.; Bernad, J.; Canales, M.; García-Joral, F.; García-Romero, E; Gialanella, P.; Gómez, J.; González, J.; Herrero, C.; Martínez2, G.; Osete, M.; Perilli, N.; Villalaín, J. (September 2001). "The Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Toarcian-Aalenian Boundary (Lower-Middle Jurassic)" (PDF). Episodes. 24: 166–175. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  2. Pavia, G.; Enay, R. (March 1997). "Definition of the Aalenian-Bajocian Stage boundary". Episodes. 20 (1): 16–22. doi:10.18814/epiiugs/1997/v20i1/004. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  3. See Gradstein et al. (2004) for a detailed version of the geologic timescale
  4. Cresta et al. (2001)
  5. Sepkoski (2002)

Literature

  • Gradstein, F.M.; Ogg, J.G. & Smith, A.G.; 2004: A Geologic Time Scale 2004, Cambridge University Press.
  • Cresta, S.; Goy, A.; Ureta, S.; Arias, C.; Barrón, E.; Bernad, J.; Canales, M.L.; García-Joral, F.; García-Romero, E.; Gialanella, P.R.; Gómez, J.J.; González, J.A.; Herrero, C.; Martínez, G.; Osete, M.L.; Perilli, N. & Villalaín, J.J.; 2001: The Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Toarcian-Aalenian Boundary (Lower-Middle Jurassic), Episodes 24(3): pp 166–175.
  • Mayer-Eymar, K.; 1864: Tableau synchronistique des terrains jurassiques. 1 Tabelle, Zürich. (in French)
  • Sepkoski, J.; 2002: A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (entry on cephalopoda), Bulletins of American Paleontology 364, p 560.
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