Paleobiota of the Solnhofen Formation

The Solnhofen Plattenkalk, a collective term of multiple Late Jurassic lithographic limestones in southeastern Germany, is famous for its well preserved fossil flora and fauna dating to the late Jurassic.

Solnhofen Limestone
Stratigraphic range: Kimmeridgian-Tithonian[1][2]
A brittle star fossil from the Solnhofen Formation.
TypeGeological formation
UnderliesUsseltal Formation
OverliesTorleite Formation
Lithology
PrimaryLithographic limestone[1]
Location
RegionBavaria
Country Germany
Type section
Named forSolnhofen

Chondrostei

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Coccolepis[3]

C. bucklandi[3]

Halecostomi

Semionotidae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Lepidotes[4]

L. decoratus[4]

L. intermedius[4]

L. maximus[4]

L. notopterus[4]

L. oblongus[4]

L. pustulosus[4]

L. subovatus[4]

L. unguiculatus[4]

Macrosemiidae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Histionotus[5]

H. oberndorferi[5]

Macrosemius[5]

M. rostratus[5]

Notagogus[5]

N. decoratus[5]

N. denticulatus

Propterus[5]

P. elongatus[5]

P. microstomus[5]

Eusemius[5]

E. beatae[5]

Pycnodontiformes

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Eomesodon[6]

E. gibbosus[6]

Gyrodus[6]

G. circularis[6]

G. hexagonus[6]

Mesturus[6]

M. verrucosus[6]

Macromesodon[6]

M. heckeli[6]

M. macropterus[6]

Proscinetes[6]

P. elegans[6]

P. formosus[6]

Pachycormidae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Asthenocormus[7]

A. titanius[7]

Hypsocormus[7]

H. insignis[7]

H. macrodon[7]

Orthocormus[7]

O. cornutus[7]

Pseudoasthenocormus[8]

P. retrodorsalis[8]

Sauropsis[7]

S. depressus[7]

S. longimanus[7]

Others

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Heterostrophus[9]

H. latus[9]

Halecomorphi

Caturidae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Amblysemius[10]

A. bellicianus[10]

A. pachyurus[10]

Caturus[10]

C. furcatus[10]

C. giganteus[10]

Liodesmus[10]

L. gracilis[10]

L. sprattiformis[10]

Ionoscopidae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Ionoscopus[11]

I. cyprinoides[11]

I. esocinus[11]

I. münsteri[11]

I. striatissimus[11]

Furidae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Furo[12]

F. angustus[12]

F. latimanus[12]

F. longiserratus[12]

F. microlepidotes[12]

Other halecomorphs

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Amiopsis[13]

A. lepidota[13]

Amiid.[13]

Ophiopsis

O. muensteri

Ophiopsiella[13]

O. attenuta[13]

O. procera[13]

Solnhofenamia[13]

S. elongata[13]

Amiid.[13]

Halecomorphi incertae sedis

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Brachyichthys[14]

B. radiato-punctatus[14]

B typicus[14]

Callopterus[14]

C. agassizzi[14]

Lophiurus[14]

L. minutus[14]

Teleostei

Pleuropholidae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Pleuropholis[15]

P. laevissima[15]

P. pompecki[15]

P. wagneri[15]

Aspidorhynchidae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Aspidorhynchus[16]

A. acutirostris[16]

Belonostomus[16]

B. münsteri[16]

B. tenuirostris[16]

Pholidophoridae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Ankylophorus[17]

Indeterminate.[17]

Eurycormus[17]

E. speciosus[17]

Pholidophoristion[17]

P. micronyx[17]

P. ovatus[17]

Pholidophorus[17]

P. armatus[17]

P. diagonalis[17]

P. falcifer[17]

P. macrocephalus[17]

P. microps[17]

P. sculptus[17]

Allothrissopidae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Allothrissops[18]

A. mesogaster[18]

A. salmoneus[18]

Pachythrissops[18]

P. propterus[18]

Thrissops[18]

T. formosus[18]

T. subovatus[18]

Orthogonikleithridae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Leptolepides[19]

L. haerteisi[19]

L. sprattiformis[19]

Orthogonikleithrus[19]

O. hoelli[19]

O. leichi[19]

Anaethalionidae

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Anaethalion[20]

A. angustissimus[20]

A. angustus[20]

A. knorri[20]

A. subovatus[20]

Others

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Ascalabos[21]

A. voithii[21]

Living Elops individual.

Daitingichthys[21]

D. tischlingeri[21]

Eichstättia[21]

E. mayri[21]

Elops[21]

cf. E. sp. 1[21]

cf. E. sp. 2[21]

cf. E. sp. 3[21]

Tharsis[21]

T. dubius[21]

Tischlingerichtys[21]

T. viohli[21]

Reptiles

Lizards

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Ardeosaurus

A. brevipes

Eichstätt

Small Lepidosaur thought to be close to the base of Geckota[22]

A. digitalellus

Solnhofen, Eichstätt

Bavarisaurus

B. macrodactylus

Kelheim

Eichstaettisaurus

E. schroederi

Eichstätt

Schoenesmahl[22] S. dyspepsia Kelheim Bavariasaurid lizard that was found in the stomach of the Compsognathus Holotype[22]

Rhynchocephalians

Name Species Locality Formation Notes Images

Homeosaurus

H. maximillioni

Eichstätt, Painten, Schamhaupten, Kelheim

Altmühltal Formation, Painten Formation
Sapheosaurus S. laticeps Eichstätt, Painten Altmühltal Formation, Painten Formation Large sapheosaurid reaching 70 cm in length, it may be semi-aquatic
Kallimodon K. pulchellus Eichstätt Altmühltal Formation Sapheosauridae
Oenosaurus O. muehlheimensis Mühlheim Mörnsheim Formation Rhynchocephalian with dentition unique among Tetrapoda[23]
Vadasaurus V. herzogi Painten? Painten Formation Rhynchocephalian close to the base of Pleurosauridae[24]

Pleurosaurus

P. goldfussi

Eichstätt, Langenaltheim, Painten, Mörnsheim

Altmühltal Formation, Painten Formation, Mörnsheim Formation

Acrosaurus fischmanni is a synonym.[25]

Ichthyosaurs

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Aegirosaurus

A. leptospondylus

Eichstätt, Solnhofen[26]

A. leptospondylus tail

"Ichthyosaurus"

"I." posthumus

Eichstätt, Kelheim, Solnhofen

Nomen dubium. Known only from isolated teeth.

Turtles

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Eurysternum

E. wagleri

Solnhofen, Kelheim[27]

Cyrtura

C. temnospondyla

Solnhofen

Idiochelys

I. fitzingeri

Eichstätt

Palaeomedusa

P. testa

Kelheim, Eichstätt, Solnhofen

Eurysternum crassipes and Thalassemys marina are synonyms.

Platychelys

P. oberndorferi

Kelheim

Solnhofia

S. parsonsi

Eichstätt

Crocodylomorphs

Name Species Presence Specimens Notes Images

Alligatorellus

A. beaumonti

Kelheim

  • Partial skeleton[28]

An atoposaurid

Cricosaurus

C. elegans

Eichstätt, Solnhofen

  • Skull and vertebrae (NHM 43005)[29]
  • Partial skull (NHM 37006[29])

A metriorhynchid

Dakosaurus

D. maximus

Schernfeld

  • Isolated teeth (JME-SOS4577, JME-SOS2535[29])[30]

A metriorhynchid

Geosaurus

G. giganteus

Solnhofen

  • Skull and mandible (NHM 37020)[31]
  • Isolated tooth (NHM 37016)[31]

A metriorhynchid

Rhacheosaurus

R. gracilis

Eichstätt, Zankt

A metriorhynchid

Dinosaurs

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Archaeopteryx[32]

A. siemensii[33]

Langenaltheim, Workerszell

Wellnhoferia and Jurapteryx are synonyms.

A. lithographica[32]

Langenaltheim, Eichstätt

Compsognathus[32]

C. longipes[32]

Kelheim (Goldberg)

Pterosaurs

Name Species Presence Notes Images

Aerodactylus

A. scolopaciceps

Formerly classified as a species of Pterodactylus, closely related to Ardeadactylus, Aurorazhdarcho, and Cycnorhamphus.[34]

Anurognathus

A. ammoni

Ardeadactylus

A. longicollum

Formerly considered a species of Pterodactylus, it is more closely related to Gnathosaurus and Germanodactylus.[35]

Aurorazhdarcho

A. micronyx

Ctenochasma

C. elegans

Originally classified as Pterodactylus elegans

Cycnorhamphus

C. suevicus

Originally classified as Pterodactylus suevicus

Germanodactylus

G. cristatus

Originally classified as Pterodactylus cristatus

G. rhamphastinus

Gnathosaurus

G. subulatus

Pterodactylus

P. antiquus

  • Only one species is currently supported as valid, the rest represent growth stages, often of other species, synonyms, or nomina dubia.[36]

Rhamphorhynchus

R. muensteri

  • Only one species is currently supported as valid, the rest represent growth stages, often of other species, synonyms, or nomina dubia.[37]

Scaphognathus[38]

S. crassirostris[38]

  1. Only two specimens have been recovered from the formation.[38] The first was found in Eichstätt, the second in Mülheim.[38]
  • A Solnhofen genus erected in 1861 by J. A. Wagner when he recognized the rhamphorhynchoid nature of "Pterodactylus" crassirostris after the discovery of a specimen with a preserved tail.[38] The Solnhofen Limestone is the only known source of Scaphognathus fossils.[38]
  1. S. crassirostris was originally named P. crassirostris in 1831 by August Goldfuss who mistook the tailless specimen for a new Pterodactylus species.[38]

Invertebrate paleofauna

Crinoids

Crinoids of the Solnhofen Formation
Taxa Presence Notes Images
  1. S. [39]

Saccocoma remains are the most common macroscopic fossils in the Solnhofen limestone.[39]

Cephalopods

Cephalopods of the Solnhofen Formation
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Xiphosura

Horseshoe crabs of the Solnhofen Formation
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Thylacocephalans

Thylacocephalans of the Solnhofen Formation
Taxa Presence Notes Images
Clausocaris C. lithographica
Dollocaris D. michelorum
Mayrocaris M. bucculata
Falcatacaris F. bastelbergeri

Insects

Dragonflies of the Solnhofen Formation
Taxa Presence Notes Images
  • Mesurupetala
Mesurupetala - Houston Museum of Natural Science

References

  1. Rauhut, O. W., Heyng, A. M., López-Arbarello, A., & Hecker, A. (2012). A new rhynchocephalian from the Late Jurassic of Germany with a dentition that is unique amongst tetrapods. PLoS ONE, 7(10): e46839.
  2. Schweigert, G. 2007. Ammonite biostratigraphy as a tool for dating Upper Jurassic lithographic limestones from South Germany – first results and open questions." Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen, 245(1): 117-125. doi:10.1127/0077-7749/2007/0245-0117
  3. "Table 1; Chondrostei; Coccolepidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  4. "Table 1; Halecostomi; Semionotidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  5. "Table 1; Halecostomi; Macrosemiidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  6. "Table 1; Halecostomi; Pycnodontiformes" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  7. "Table 1; Halecostomi; Pachycormidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  8. Note: Lambers abbreviated Pseudoasthenocormus as "Pseudoasth.," "Table 1; Halecostomi; Pachycormidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  9. "Table 1; Halecostomi; 'Halecostomi inc. sed.'" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  10. "Table 1; Halecomorphi; Caturidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  11. "Table 1; Halecomorphi; Ionoscopidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  12. "Table 1; Halecomorphi; Furidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  13. "Table 1; Halecomorphi; 'Amiidae' and 'Ophiopsidae'" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  14. "Table 1; Halecomorphi; Halecomorphi incertae cedis" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  15. "Table 1; Teleostei; Pleuropholidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  16. "Table 1; Teleostei; Aspidorhynchidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  17. "Table 1; Teleostei; Pholidophoridae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  18. "Table 1; Teleostei; Allothrissopidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  19. "Table 1; Teleostei; Orthogonikleithridae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  20. "Table 1; Teleostei; Anaethalionidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  21. "Table 1; Teleostei; 'Elopidae,' 'Ostariophysi,' 'Clupeocephala inc. sed.,' 'Elopocephala inc. sed.,' and 'Teleostei inc. sed'" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
  22. Conrad, Jack L. (2018-06-28). "A new lizard (Squamata) was the last meal of Compsognathus (Theropoda: Dinosauria) and is a holotype in a holotype". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 183 (3): 584–634. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx055. ISSN 0024-4082.
  23. "ResearchGate". ResearchGate. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046839. PMC 3485277. PMID 23118861. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  24. Bever, Gabriel S.; Norell, Mark A. "A new rhynchocephalian (Reptilia: Lepidosauria) from the Late Jurassic of Solnhofen (Germany) and the origin of the marine Pleurosauridae". Royal Society Open Science. 4 (11): 170570. doi:10.1098/rsos.170570. PMC 5717629. PMID 29291055.
  25. Dupret, V. (2004). The pleurosaurs: anatomy and phylogeny. Revue de Paléobiologie, Vol spéc, 9, 61-80.
  26. Bardet, N., & Fernández, M. (2000). A new ichthyosaur from the Upper Jurassic lithographic limestones of Bavaria. Journal Information, 74(3).
  27. JOYCE, W. G. (2003). A new Late Jurassic turtle specimen and the taxonomy of Palaeomedusa testa and edusa testa Eurysternum wagleri.
  28. Schwarz‐Wings, D., Klein, N., Neumann, C., & Resch, U. (2011). A new partial skeleton of Alligatorellus (Crocodyliformes) associated with echinoids from the Late Jurassic (Tithonian) lithographic limestone of Kelheim, S‐Germany. Fossil Record, 14(2), 195-205.
  29. De Andrade, M. B., Young, M. T., Desojo, J. B., & Brusatte, S. L. (2010). The evolution of extreme hypercarnivory in Metriorhynchidae (Mesoeucrocodylia: Thalattosuchia) based on evidence from microscopic denticle morphology. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 30(5), 1451-1465.
  30. Young MT, Brusatte SL, de Andrade MB, Desojo JB, Beatty BL, et al. (2012) The Cranial Osteology and Feeding Ecology of the Metriorhynchid Crocodylomorph Genera Dakosaurus and Plesiosuchus from the Late Jurassic of Europe. PLoS ONE 7(9): e44985. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044985
  31. Young, Mark T., and Marco Brandalise de Andrade, 2009. "What is Geosaurus? Redescription of Geosaurus giganteus (Thalattosuchia: Metriorhynchidae) from the Upper Jurassic of Bayern, Germany." Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 157: 551-585.
  32. Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Jurassic, Europe)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 545–549. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  33. Mayr, G.; Phol, B.; Hartman, S.; Peters, D. S. (2007). "The tenth skeletal specimen of Archaeopteryx". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 149: 97–116. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2006.00245.x.
  34. Vidovic SU, Martill DM (2014) Pterodactylus scolopaciceps Meyer, 1860 (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Upper Jurassic of Bavaria, Germany: The Problem of Cryptic Pterosaur Taxa in Early Ontogeny. PLoS ONE 9(10): e110646. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0110646
  35. Bennett, S.C. (2002). "Soft tissue preservation of the cranial crest of the pterosaur Germanodactylus from Solnhofen." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 22(1): 43-48.
  36. Jouve, S. (2004). "Description of the skull of a Ctenochasma (Pterosauria) from the latest Jurassic of eastern France, with a taxonomic revision of European Tithonian Pterodactyloidea." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 24(3): 542-554.
  37. Bennett, S. C. (1995). "A statistical study of Rhamphorhynchus from the Solnhofen Limestone of Germany: Year-classes of a single large species." Journal of Paleontology, 69: 569-580.
  38. "Scaphognathus." In: Cranfield, Ingrid (ed.). The Illustrated Directory of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Creatures. London: Salamander Books, Ltd. Pp. 308-309.
  39. Clare V. Milsom. (1994) Saccacoma, a benthic crinoid from the Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone, Germany Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine. Palaeontology 37 (1) 121-129.
  40. Lomax, Dean R. (2010). "Am Ichthyosaurus (Reptilia, Ichthyosauria) with gastric contents from Charmouth, England: First report of the genus from the Pliensbachian" (PDF). Paludicola. Rochester Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology. 8 (1): 22–36. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2011.

General

  • Lambers, P. H. (1999). The actinopterygian fish fauna of the Late Kimmeridgian and Early Tithonian 'Plattenkalke' near Solnhofen (Bavaria, Germany): state of the art. Geologie en Mijnbouw 78:215-229.
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