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DeutschPaleobiota of the Ciechocinek Formation
 | This article may be too technical for most readers to understand. (January 2021) |
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The Ciechocinek Formation is a Jurassic (lower to middle Toarcian) geologic formation which extends across the Baltic coast from Grimmen, Germany, to Nida, Lithuania, with its major sequence in Poland and boreholes in Kaliningrad. Dinosaur species uncovered here, including Emausaurus and other unclassified genus.
In Poland, the main basin lacks marine microfauna. The Ciechocinek Formation in the Częstochowa-Zawiercie area reveals the remains of a wide range of prehistoric environments; the Fore-Sudetic Monocline region must have been an extensive bay similar to Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. The basin's shore zone was a flat, muddy, marshy coastal plain.
The region has the remains of the Wrêczyca River, which was active for most of the Pliensbachian/Toarcian period. At the Brody-Lubienia borehole (Lubienia), which once formed part of the river's east side, an alluvial system ended at a delta and discharged into a shallow marine bay and lagoon. A number of phyllopods and fossilized plant roots have been found here, where they were discharged by the river. Paleosol indicates that the lagoon had a maximum depth of about 6 metres (20 ft).
Foraminifera
[edit]Color key
| Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; |
| Genus | Species | Location | Material | Abundance | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Shells | Abundant | A marine foraminiferan, member of the family Ammomarginulininae inside Lituolidae | ||
|
| Shells | Rare | A marine foraminiferan, type member of the family Ammodiscinae inside Ammodiscina. Benthic foraminiferal successions heavily dominated by Ammodiscus and Trochammina are known from several Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic sediment packages along the Atlantic margin of northwestern Europe. | ||
|
| Shells | Very scarce | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, member of the family Plectofrondiculariidae inside Polymorphinina | ||
|
| Shells | Abundant | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, type member of the family Bolivinidae inside Bolivinoidea; reaches 40% of sampled foranimiferans on at least one sample | ||
|
| Shells | Rare | A marine foraminiferan, type member of the family Vaginulininae inside Nodosarioidea | ||
|
| Shells | Present in low numbers | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, type member of the family Cornuspirinae inside Cornuspiroidea | ||
|
| Shells | Rare | A marine foraminiferan, type member of the family Saccamminidae inside Astrorhizacea | ||
|
| Shells | Diverse but scarce | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, member of the family Nodosariidae inside Nodosariinae | ||
|
| Shells | Scarce | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, member of the family Polymorphininae inside Polymorphinina | ||
|
| Shells | Very scarce | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, member of the family Robuloididae inside Robuloidoidea | ||
|
| Shells | Diverse but scarce | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, member of the family Nodosariidae inside Nodosariinae | ||
|
| Shells | Moderately present | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, member of the family Usbekistaniinae inside Ammodiscidae; its abundance is lower than other genera, yet reaches peaks of 5-10% in at least one sample | ||
|
| Shells | Diverse but rare | A marine foraminiferan, member of the family Lituoloidea inside Lituolida | ||
|
| Shells | Rare | A marine foraminiferan, member of the family Ammodiscinae inside Ammodiscina | ||
|
| Shells | Scarce | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, member of the family Nodosariidae inside Nodosariinae | ||
|
| Shells | Rare | A marine foraminiferan, member of the family Saccamminidae inside Astrorhizacea; sometimes confused with the genus Arlagenammum | ||
|
| Shells | Diverse but very scarce | A marine foraminiferan, member of the family Vaginulinidae inside Nodosarioidea | ||
|
| Shells | Abundant | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, type member of the family Lingulininae inside Nodosariinae; reaches percentages of 25% in some samples | ||
|
| Shells | Abundant | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, type member of the family Marginulininae inside Vaginulinidae; Marginulina prima reaches a 35% on a few samples | ||
|
| Shells | Diverse but scarce | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, type member of the family Nodosariidae inside Nodosariinae. Despite its diversity, it is very scarce on most samples, with less than 1-2% of presence. | ||
|
| Shells | Present in low numbers | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, type member of the family Ophthalmidiidae inside Cornuspiroidea | ||
|
| Shells | Rare | A marine foraminiferan, member of the family Lituoloidea inside Lituolida | ||
|
| Shells | Scarce | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, member of the family Nodosariidae inside Nodosariinae | ||
|
| Shells | Rare | A marine foraminiferan, type member of the family Saccamminidae inside Astrorhizacea. Sometimes confused with the genus Arsaccammum or called Saccamina. The local specimens are rather rare, incomplete, and complicated to identify. | ||
|
| Shells | One specimen | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, type member of the family Stilostomellidae inside Nodosariinae | ||
|
| Shells | Very scarce | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, member of the family Trochamminoidae inside Lituolida | ||
|
| Shells | Rare | A marine foraminiferan, type member of the family Trochammininae inside Trochamminina. Small-sized Ammodiscus–Trochammina assemblages are found associated with delta-influenced shelf environment, where biota would have been stressed by intermittent periods with moderate hypoxia combined with lowered salinity and storm impacts. | ||
|
| Shells | Very scarce | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, member of the family Spirillinidae inside Spirillinina | ||
|
| Shells | Scarce | A marine/brackish foraminiferan, type member of the family Vaginulininae inside Vaginulinidae |
Dinoflagellates
[edit]| Genus | Species | Location | Material | Abundance | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dinocysts | Abundant | A marine Dinophyceae Dinoflagellatan, type member of the family Luehndeoideae inside Mancodiniaceae. Presence of Luehndea spinosa suggests Late Pliensbachian–earliest Toarcian age of studied assemblages. The marine dinoflagellate cyst Luehndea spinosa and foraminiferal linings were found only in the lower half of the Kozłowice succession. | ||
|
| Dinocysts | Dominant | A marine Dinophyceae Dinoflagellatan, type member of the family Nannoceratopsiaceae inside Nannoceratopsiales. The large amount of Cysts of the genus point to more diversified marine palaeoenvironments. N. senex is the most abundant. Locally Nannoceratopsis recovers series of marine transgressions and regressions, pointing to the presence of interbedding marine and brackish sediments. |
Fungi
[edit]| Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| Saprophyte fungal Spores from Marine and Deltaic Settings associated with wood and Litter.[8] The frequency of fungal spores on the Polish basin on the Pliensbachian-Toarcian transition is correlated with negative C isotope peaks and enhanced cuticular plant litter accumulation, pointing to the climate-driven enhanced decomposition of wood and rapid destruction of terrestrial carbon, which may have played an important role in the aggravation of the Jurassic Greenhouse disaster.[8] Associated with a high rate of organic burial, the presence of Fungal Matter increased on the Uppermost layers of the Drzewica Formation, with a continued deposition between the T-OAE extinction, and several ups and downs on the Ciechocinek Formation, related with local climate and humidity changes. This is rather a reflection of the efficiency of terrestrial biodegradation.[8] Measured increasing of temperature favored local fungal-mediated decomposition of plant litter, specifically of normally resistant wood.[8] Observed fungal spores represent various morphotypes and resemble superficially other palynogenic detritus, such as spherical Prasinophyceae.[8] In some cases spherical fungal spores show structures related to Hyphae attachments.[8] | .jpg) |
Invertebrates
[edit]Ichnofossils
[edit]| Genus | Species | Type | Location | Material | Origin | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fodinichnia |
| Small branching burrows |
| Saltwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. Interpreted as the feeding burrow of a sediment-ingesting animal. A more recent study has found that Scoloplos armiger and Heteromastus filiformis, occurring in the German Wadden Sea in the lower parts of tidal flats, make burrows that are homonymous with numerous trace fossils of the ichnogenus. |  | |
| Domichnia |
| U-shaped burrows |
| Marine-Mangroove Vertical, U-shaped, single-spreite Burrows; unidirectional or bidirectional spreite, generally continuous, rarely discontinuous. Most Diplocraterion show only protrusive spreit, like the local ones, produced under predominantly erosive conditions where the organism was constantly burrowing deeper into the substrate as sediment was eroded from the top. |  | |
| Fodinichnia |
| Winding, horizontal, double ridge burrows, separated by a median groove. |
| Saltwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. On the Kozlowice strata, only a few specimens were observed. Gyrochorte is interpreted as a result of active digging on the sediment by a deposit-feeding worm-like animal, probably Annelid or similar kinds of creatures.[11] | ||
| Fodinichnia |
| Simple, unbranched, horizontal cylinder traces | Saltwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. There are a few specimens in the Kozlowice outcrop. It is interpreted as a grazing trail or Fodinichnia, produced at shallow depth in sediment by Polychaetes and Priapulids.[11] |  | ||
| Pascichnia |
| Cylindrical strands with branches |
| Saltwater/Blackish trace ichnofossils. Probably done by Polychaetes | ||
| Domichnia |
| Straight or gently curved tubular burrows. |
| Saltwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. Palaeophycus is less common than Planolites in deposits of the Ciechocinek Formation. On the Kozlowice outcrop however there are numerous specimens occur, interpreted as the result of passive filling of polychaete burrows.[11] |  | |
| Pascichnia |
| Cylindrical or elliptical curved/tortuous trace fossils |
| Saltwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. Planolites is really common in all types of the Ciechocinek Formation deposits. It is referred to vermiform deposit-feeders, mainly Polychaetes, producing active Fodinichnia. It is controversial, since is considered a strictly a junior synonym of Palaeophycus. |  | |
| Pasichnia |
| Bilobate trace fossil |
| Saltwater/Blackish and Freshwater bottom Trace Fossils. Protovirgularia is a Repichnia form, ascribed to the activity of Bivalves, leaving a trace due to the rhythmic action of a foot.[11] | ||
| Domichnia |
| Cylindrical strands with branches |
| Blackish trace ichnofossils. Interpreted as dwelling structures of vermiform animals, more concretely the Domichnion of a suspension-feeding Worm or Phoronidan. | ||
|
|
| Horizontal and subhorizontal, branching tunnels, cylindrical or elliptical in cross-section, displaying elongated striation on exterior of burrow casts |
| Saltwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. On the Kozłowice section a series of sand-filled tunnels of Spongeliomorpha are preserved as Endichnia within mudstone, preserved as Tubular Tempestites (Storm-burrow filling), open tubes produced by animals burrowing in a stable, stiff or firm substrate.[13] Here the tubes occur in one horizon with thin sandy laminae and lenses that represent isolated Starved Ripples carried on the muddy sea-floor by storm-generated Traction power network.[13] | ||
| Fodinichnia |
| Unlined meniscate burrows |
| Saltwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. Taenidium is a meniscate backfill structure, usually considered to be produced by an animal progressing axially through the sediment and depositing alternating packets of differently constituted sediment behind it as it moves forward. | ||
| Fodinichnia |
| Vertical to oblique, unbranched or branched, elongated to arcuate spreite burrow |
| Saltwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. Is common on the Pomerania Region. The overall morphology and details of the burrows, in comparison with modern analogues and neoichnological experiments, suggest Echiurans (spoon worms) or Holothurians (sea cucumbers) with a combined suspension- and deposit-feeding behaviour as potential producers. |  |
Annelida
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Cocoons | Freshwater Clitellata Cocoons (Oligochaeta and Hirudinea), identified with palynological residues, and through to be tridimensional nets of probable algal origin.[16] Fragmentary mesh-like networks of happiness threads composed of homogenous translucent material. They show the outer wall (hapsine) construction specific to clitellate annelids and lack an alytine (inner) layer. A disorderly meshwork of the hapsine layer and hapsine fibers of unequal thickness, are diagnostic of the type species Dictyothylakos pesslerae. The cocoons Dictyothylakos pesslerae resemble specially those of modern Leechs, and are common on flooded basin sediments, which implies not only the presence of parasitic leeches, but also the presence of large hosts nearby, as has been confirmed on the case of the Ciechocinek Formation, thanks to the presence of not only dinosaurs but also Dipnoi and other freshwater taxa. |  .jpeg) |
Brachiopoda
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Cunchs | A Saltwater Brachiopodan, member of Discinidae inside Discinida. The classification of the Discinidae is rather treated with confusion, due to the description and the identification of either extinct and extant genera and species. The shells of this genus are the only identifiable brachiopods of the formation. |
Bivalvia
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Shells | A Saltwater Oyster, member of "Posidoniidae" inside Ostreoida. A genus classified under "Posidonia bronni". Found usually associated with Driftwood. |  | |
|
| Shells | A freshwater mussel, member of the family Unionidae inside Unionida. Associated with plant detritus, likely washed from nearby mainland |  | |
|
| Shells | A Saltwater Clam, member of Pholadomyidae inside Pholadomyida. Rather common, but less abundant than other local genera | ||
|
| Shells | A Saltwater Clam, member of Ceratomyidae inside Pleuromyoidea. | ||
|
| Shells | A Saltwater Clam, member of Lucinidae inside Lucinida. Very abundant on the layers |  | |
|
| Shells | A Saltwater Scallop, member of Oxytomidae inside Pectinida. Depositional environments in the Polish Basin at this time did not host organisms normally associated with well-oxygenated marine conditions. Meleagrinella substriata is the most common bivalve found on the Toarcian Polish Basin, linked with all the brackish Deposits.[21] |  | |
|
| Shells |  | ||
|
| Shells | A Saltwater/Brackish Clam, member of Inoceramidae inside Myalinida. Pseudomytiloides dubius is a possible junior synonym. This genus resembles the Modern Pearl Oysters, although it was more likely a clam. The specimens are rather complete. It is the most common bivalve found locally. Is also very numerous in young specimens |  | |
|
| Shells | A Saltwater Ark Clam, member of Parallelodontidae inside Arcida. | ||
|
| Shells | A Saltwater Clam, member of Inoceramidae inside Myalinida. This genus resemble the Modern Pearl Oysters, although it was more likely a clam. The specimens are rather complete. | ||
|
| Shells | A Saltwater Oyster, member of "Posidoniidae" inside Ostreoida. A genus classified under "Posidonia bronni". |  | |
|
| Shells | A Saltwater Clam, member of Tancrediidae inside Cardiida. |
Gastropoda
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Shells | A Sea Snail, member of Cerithiinae inside Caenogastropoda. |  | |
|
| Shells | A holoplanktonic Snail, type member of the family Coelodiscidae inside Prosobranchia. This is the oldest known holoplanktonic gastropod, thanks to bilateral symmetrical shells as an adaption to active swimming. Also the most common of the sea snails on the Clay Pit of Dobbertin, where is one of the most varied in size terms, with some of the biggest specimens of this snail from the Lower Toarcian know. It has been related to large floating driftwood as one of the primary settlers. | ||
|
| Shells | A Sea Snail, member of Turritellidae inside Cerithioidea. |
Cephalopoda
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Multiple Specimens. | A Belemnoidean. member of the family Megateuthididae inside Belemnitida. |  | |
|
| Multiple Specimens | A Mesoteuthoidean, member of the family Beloteuthidae. Is a relatively small genus. | .jpg) | |
|
| Shells | An Ammonite, type member of the family Dactylioceratinae inside Ammonoidea. Most common ammonite found on the Green Series and the different erratic boulders, as is the most common on the German realm, on the north and the south, with several specimens of different sizes. |  | |
|
| Shells | An Ammonite, member of the family Hildoceratidae inside Ammonoidea. |  | |
|
| Shells | An Ammonite, member of the family Hildoceratidae inside Ammonoidea. | ||
|
| Two Specimens | A Loligosepiidae Loligosepiidan (Vampyromorpha). Related to the modern Vampyroteuthis infernalis. Gladii of Loligosepia can be distinguished from Jeletzkyteuthis by the transition lateral field/hyperbolar zone. Described originally as Belopeltis bollensis. | ||
|
| Shells | An Ammonite, member of the family Lytoceratidae inside Ammonoidea. |  | |
|
| Shells | An Ammonite, type member of the family Dactylioceratinae inside Ammonoidea. | ||
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| Shells | An Ammonite, member of the family Dactylioceratinae inside Ammonoidea. | ||
|
| Shells | An Ammonite, member of the family Harpoceratinae inside Ammonoidea. |  | |
|
| Shells | An Ammonite, type member of the family Phylloceratinae inside Ammonoidea. |  | |
|
| Few specimens | A Vampire Squid, member of Teudopsidae inside Vampyropodan. Related to the modern Vampyroteuthis infernalis. |  | |
|
| Shells | An Ammonite, member of the family Hildoceratidae inside Ammonoidea. |  | |
|
| Shells | An Ammonite, member of the family Phymatoceratidae inside Ammonoidea. |
Crustacea
[edit]Small indeterminate shrimps, sometimes found associated in great numbers, are recovered on several layers at Grimmen.[27]
| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Valves | A marine/brackish Ostracodan of the family Bairdiidae inside Bairdioidea. | ||
|
| Valves | A marine/brackish Ostracodan of the family Bythocyprididae inside Bairdioidea. | ||
| Indeterminate |
| Valves | A marine/brackish Ostracodan of the family Cytherelloidea inside Platycopina. | ||
|
| Valves | A Freshwater Clam shrimp (Phyllopodan) of the family Lioestheriidae. Originally identified as a bivalve of the genus "Posidonia" and latter a member of the genus Lioestheria. They fed on detritus, being very small slow moving, nektonic organisms that filter fed as they floated. Euestheria opalina dominates the invertebrate assamblages. The specimens are numerous here and form thin layers, being the most abundant invertebrate recovered on all the formation. The presence of Euestheria marks the appearance of less saline conditions, as this is a mostly freshwater genus. Is linked with beds where abundant freshwater algae covers the layers, being both probably washed from the nearby mainland trought streams. The local Phyllopods are related with a great amount of freshwater debris (especially plants), and suggest seasonal changes on the rivers on the Toarcian Polish Basin. On Kozłowice, there is an association of the ichnogenus Planolites and phyllopods of this genus, which reflects a gradual decline in water salinity during a sea level high standard regression. | ||
|
|
| A Marine Decapodan, type member of the family Glypheidae inside Decapoda. |  | |
|
| Valves | A marine/brackish Ostracodan of the family Healdiidae inside Metacopa. Hungarella adenticulata was first identified in Dobbertin | ||
|
| Valves | A Marine Ostracodan of the family Pontocyprididae. Small marine ostracods related with abundant Green Algae environments | ||
|
| Valves | A marine/brackish Ostracodan of the family Paracypridinae inside Candonidae. | ||
|
| Valves | A marine/brackish Ostracodan of the family Polycopidae inside Cladocopina. | ||
|
| Valves | A marine/brackish Ostracodan of the family Protocytheridae inside Cytheroidea. | ||
|
|
| A Marine Decapodan, member of the family Proeryoninae inside Polychelida. Resemble Proeryon hartmani show less adaptations to hunt for small nectobenthic preys than other relatives, being abundant on Oyster-filled waters. There is a relative abundance of the genus in deep-water settings from the Toarcian onward. |  | |
|
| Valves | A marine/brackish Ostracodan of incertae sedis affinity |
Arachnida
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Single Incomplete Specimen | A spider, possible member of the superfamily Palpimanoidea.[32] It is the first confirmed spider from the lower Jurassic, and a rare find, probably washed to the sea due to a hard wind related to hurricane action. Probably a ground-dwelling predator that hunted the abundant insect fauna present on the layers.[32] With a robust and well-armed legs I, directed forwards give the suggestion that they were preycapture appendages, a morphology typical of a sit-and-wait predator, while the short legs III are more typical on web spiders, especially Orbweavers, but also found on Palpimanoids, but not on that that are common substrate dwellers, that had legs more equal.[32] Seppo was probably not a habitual ground dweller, with armoured front legs related to capturing dangerous prey, such as many palpimanoids today are Araneophagous, for example.[32] |
Insecta
[edit]Insects are common terrestrial animals that were probably drifted to the sea due to Moonsonal conditions present on the Ciechocinek Formation.[33] In Klein Lehmhagen insects are found as part of calcareous nodules in the exaratum-elegantulum subzones, with specimens also found in living chambers of Eleganticeras elegantulum macrochonchs and in fish coprolites which are the most frequent fossils at all.[33] In the elegantulum the insect fauna is dominated by beetle elytra, indicating strong fluvial input and a nearshore deltaic complex.[33] On Dobbertin, insects are present in the exaratum nodules, where fluvial input is seen thanks to the phyllopod abundance and whole bedding planes covered by algae substituted by Ca-phosphat, being the layers where insects are most abundant.[33]
Paraneoptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Specimens | A Paraneopteran, member of the family Archipsyllidae inside Permopsocida. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Paraneopteran, member of the family Psocidiidae inside Permopsocida. | ||
|
|
| Primitive Pterygotans, member of the family Protomyrmeleontidae inside Dicondylia. | ||
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| ||||
|
| Specimens | Reculidans, member of Gryllones (Extinct clade of Basal Insects) of the family Geinitziidae. |
Grylloblattodea
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Partial Specimens | An Ice crawler, member of the family Geinitziidae inside Grylloblattodea or Reculida. | ||
|
| Partial Specimens | An Ice crawler, member of the family Bajanzhargalanidae inside Grylloblattodea. One of the main Floor insects found. | .jpg) |
Eoblattida
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Specimens | An Eoblattidan, member of the family Blattogryllidae inside Eoblattida. |
Thysanoptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Specimens | Thysanopterans, members of the family Lophioneurida inside Thripida. Aeroplankton is extraordinarily well preserved in Grimmen, with the most abundant representatives of the aeroplankton (around 3 mm) being Lophioneurids, specially Undacypha europaea. |  | |
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Odonata
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Specimens | A Dragonfly, member of the family Myopophlebiidae inside Odonata. | ||
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| A dragonfly, incertae sedis inside Odonata. | ||
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| ||||
|
|
| A Dragonfly, member of the family Selenothemistidae inside Odonata. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Dragonfly, member of the family Eosagrionidae inside Odonata. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Dragonfly, member of the family Liassophlebiidae inside Odonata. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Dragonfly, member of the family Heterophlebiidae inside Odonata. | ||
|
|
| A Dragonfly, member of the family Liassogomphidae inside Odonata. | ||
|
|
| A dragonfly, incertae sedis inside Odonata. Magnasupplephlebia represents a very large dragonfly, with a wingspan of 13 cm. Other odonatan remains are unable to being referred to a concrete group due to their incomplete status. | ||
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| A Dragonfly, type member of the family Selenothemistidae inside Odonata. | ||
|
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| A dragonfly, incertae sedis inside Odonata. Magnasupplephlebia represents a very large dragonfly, with a wingspan of 13 cm. Other odonatan remains are unable to being referred to a concrete group due to their incomplete status. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Dragonfly, member of the family Heterophlebiidae inside Odonata. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Dragonfly, member of the family Asiopteridae inside Odonata. "Sphenophlebia pommerana" is a junior synonym. |
Plecoptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Specimens | A stonefly, member of the family Perlariopseidae inside Plecoptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A small winter Stonefly, member of the family Capniidae inside Plecoptera. | _(16475370865).jpg) |
Orthoptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| Grasshoppers of the family Locustopsidae inside Orthoptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Locust, type member of the family Locustidae inside Orthoptera. | .jpg) | |
|
|
| A Grasshopper, member of the family Elcanidae inside Orthoptera. The species Panorpidium magna is among the largest Orthopterans of the Jurassic, while Panorpidium minima is among the smallest. | ||
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| ||||
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| Grasshoppers of the family Locustopsidae inside Orthoptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Grasshopper, member of the family Regiatidae inside Orthoptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Cricket-like Grasshopper, type member of the family Protogryllidae inside Orthoptera. | ||
|
|
| Grasshoppers of the family Locustopsidae inside Orthoptera. | ||
|
|
| A Grasshopper, member of the family Elcanidae inside Orthoptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A grasshopper, incertae Sedis inside Orthoptera. |
Phasmatodea
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Specimens | A Stick Insect, member of the family Aerophasmidae inside Phasmatodea. | .jpg) |
Blattodea
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| A Cockroach, member of the family Blattulidae inside Dicondylia. Member of an extinct cockroach-like family which was widely distributed around the world and lasted from Late Triassic to Cretaceous. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Cockroach, type member of the family Caloblattinidae inside Blattodea. | ||
|
|
| A Cockroach, member of the family Blattulidae inside Dicondylia. Member of an extinct cockroach-like family which was widely distributed around the world and lasted from Late Triassic to Cretaceous. | ||
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|
| Specimens | A Carnivorous Cockroach, type member of the family Raphidiomimidae inside Blattodea. | ||
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| Specimens | A Cockroach, type member of the family Mesoblattinidae inside Blattodea. |
Hemiptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Specimens | A water boatman, member of the family Corixidae inside Hemiptera. |  | |
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| Specimens | Shore bugs, member of the family Archegocimicidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A creeping water bug, member of the family Naucoridae inside Hemiptera. |  | |
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| ||||
|
| Specimens | True Bugs, member of the family Pachymeridiidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | Leafhoppers of the family Archijassidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
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| Specimens | Shore bugs, member of the family Archegocimicidae inside Hemiptera. |  | |
|
| Isolated Wings | Moss bugs of the family Progonocimicidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
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| Specimens | Leafhoppers of the family Archijassidae inside Hemiptera. | .jpg) | |
|
| Isolated Wings | A Sternorrhynchan, member of the family Protopsyllidiidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Stemorrhynchan, type member of the family Archiconiopterygidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | True Bugs, member of the family Pachymeridiidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
|
| Planthoppers of the family Fulgoridiidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A true Bug, member of the family Cuneocoridae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | Shore bugs, member of the family Archegocimicidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Wings | Moss bugs of the family Progonocimicidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
|
| Planthoppers of the family Fulgoridiidae inside Hemiptera. The colossal abundance of the genus Fulgoridium maybe it is related to a preference for seashore habitats. Some specimens are indistinguishable, making possible some species synonymous. |  | |
|
| Specimens | An aphid, member of the family Oviparosiphidae inside Hemiptera. Among the oldest Aphids |  | |
|
| Specimens | A true Bug, member of the family Hadrocoridae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | True Bugs, member of the family Pachymeridiidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A jumping plant louse, member of the family Liadopsyllidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
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| Specimens | A cicadomorphan, member of the family Hylicellidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A true bug, incertae sedis inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
|
| Planthoppers of the family Fulgoridiidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
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| Specimens | Leafhoppers of the family Archijassidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
|
| Planthoppers of the family Fulgoridiidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | True Bugs, member of the family Pachymeridiidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A Coleorrhynchan, member of the family Probascanionidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | Froghoppers of the family Procercopidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| ||||
|
| Isolated Wings | Moss bugs of the family Progonocimicidae inside Hemiptera. |  | |
|
| Specimens | Shore bugs, member of the family Archegocimicidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
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| Specimens | True Bugs, member of the family Pachymeridiidae inside Hemiptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Wings | A Sternorrhynchan, member of the family Protopsyllidiidae inside Hemiptera. |
Hymenoptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Isolated Wings | Wasps, member of the family Ephialtitidae inside Hymenoptera | ||
|
| Specimens | A Wood Wasp, member of the family Karatavitidae inside Hymenoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Wings | Wasps, member of the family Ephialtitidae inside Hymenoptera | ||
|
| Specimens | A pseudo-Wasp, member of the family Sepulcidae inside Hymenoptera. |
Megaloptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Specimens | An alderfly, member of the family Sialidae inside Megaloptera. |  |
Neuroptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Isolated Wings | Lacewings of the family Prohemerobiidae inside Neuroptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A silky lacewing, member of the Family Psychopsidae inside Neuroptera. An unexpected giant Silky lacewing, with a size up to 7 cm. | .jpg) | |
|
| Specimens | A lacewing, member of the Family Epigambriidae inside Neuroptera. Members of the macrofamily Ithonidae |  | |
|
| Specimens | A Neuropteran of the family Mantispidae. It is the earliest know Chrysopid | .jpg) | |
|
| Isolated Wings | A lacewing, incertae sedis inside Neuroptera. The wings if this neauropterans are rather fagmentary and its inclusion on any extant or extinct family is complex | ||
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| Specimens | A lance lacewing, member of the family Osmylidae inside Neuroptera. | ||
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| Specimens | A lacewing, member of the Family Epigambriidae inside Neuroptera. Members of the macrofamily Ithonidae | ||
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| Isolated Wings | Lacewings of the family Prohemerobiidae inside Neuroptera. | ||
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| Specimens | A lacewing, type member of the Family Solenoptilidae inside Neuroptera. | ||
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| Isolated hind wing | A dustywing, member of the Family Toarciconiopteryginae inside Neuroptera. The oldest representative of the family |  |
Coleoptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. Great amount of Beetle elytrons on both Dobbertin and Grimmen corroborates the presence of suitable environments nearby. | ||
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| Specimens | A ground beetle, member of the family Carabidae inside Coleoptera. | .jpg) | |
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| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Specimens | A whirligig beetle, member of the family Gyrinidae inside Coleoptera. | _(14805555906).jpg) | |
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Elytrons | A jewel beetle, member of the family Buprestidae inside Coleoptera. |  | |
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| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
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| Elytrons | A beetle, member of the family Permosynidae inside Coleoptera. | ||
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| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
|
| A False Ground Beetle of the family Trachypachidae. |  | |
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| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
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| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
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| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
|
| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
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| Isolated Elytrons | Beetles, incertae sedis inside Coleoptera. | ||
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|
| A bark gnawing beetle, member of the family Trogossitidae inside Coleoptera. | .jpg) |
Trichoptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Isolated Wings | Caddisflies, member of the family Necrotauliidae inside Trichoptera. | ||
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| Specimens | A finger-net caddisfly, member of the family Philopotamidae inside Trichoptera. |  | |
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| Isolated Wings | Caddisflies, member of the family Necrotauliidae inside Trichoptera. | ||
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Lepidoptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| A Moth, member of the family Eolepidopterigidae inside Lepidoptera. They are essential fossils for the Development of the color on Lepidopterans. |
Mecoptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| Hangingflies, member of the family Bittacidae inside Mecoptera. | ||
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| Specimens | A Scorpionfly, member of the family Permochoristidae inside Mecoptera. | ||
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| Hangingflies, member of the family Orthophlebiidae inside Mecoptera. | ||
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| Hangingflies, member of the family Bittacidae inside Mecoptera. |  | |
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| Hangingflies, member of the family Orthophlebiidae inside Mecoptera. | ||
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| Hangingflies, member of the family Bittacidae inside Mecoptera. | ||
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| Specimens | A scorpionfly, type member of the family Pseudopolycentropodidae inside Mecoptera. |
Diptera
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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| The oldest known non biting Midges, members of the Chironomidae inside Diptera |  | |
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| Isolated Wings | Flies, member of the family Antefungivoridae inside Diptera. | ||
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| Isolated Wings | |||
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| Isolated Wings | Flies, member of the family Protorhyphidae inside Diptera | ||
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| A Crane Fly of the family Limoniidae inside Diptera. | .jpg) | |
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| Isolated Wings | A Phantom crane fly, member of the family Ptychopteridae inside Diptera. | _-_(male_imago),_Arnhem,_the_Netherlands.jpg) | |
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| Specimens | A Fly, type member of the family Eoditomyidae inside Diptera | ||
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| Isolated Wings | A Phantom crane fly, member of the family Ptychopteridae inside Diptera. | | |
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| A Crane Fly of the family Limoniidae inside Diptera. | ||
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| A Crane Fly of the family Limoniidae inside Diptera. | ||
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| Isolated Wings | A Snipe Fly, member of the family Rhagionidae inside Diptera. |  | |
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| Specimens | A Fly, type member of the family Heterorhyphidae inside Diptera | ||
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| Isolated Wings | A Snipe Fly, member of the family Rhagionidae inside Diptera. | ||
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| Isolated Wings | A Moth fly, member of the family Psychodidae inside Diptera. |  | |
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| Isolated wings | A Winter Crane Fly, member of the family Trichoceridae inside Diptera. | _-_(imago),_Elst_(Gld),_the_Netherlands_-_3.jpg) | |
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| Isolated Wings | A Wood Gnat, member of the family Anisopodidae inside Diptera. |  | |
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| A Crane Fly of the family Limoniidae inside Diptera. | ||
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| Isolated Wings | A Fly, member of the family Hennigmatidae inside Diptera. | ||
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| Isolated Wings | A primitive Crane Fly, member of the family Tanyderidae inside Diptera. | ||
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| The oldest known non biting Midges, members of the Chironomidae inside Diptera | ||
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| Specimens | A Phantom midge of the family Chaoboridae inside Diptera. |  | |
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| Isolated Wings | A Snipe Fly, member of the family Rhagionidae inside Diptera. | ||
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| A Crane Fly of the family Limoniidae inside Diptera. | ||
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| Isolated Wings | A Fly, member of the family Pleciofungivoridae inside Diptera. | ||
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| The oldest known non biting Midges, members of the Chironomidae inside Diptera | ||
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| Isolated Wings | A primitive Crane Fly, member of the family Tanyderidae inside Diptera. | ||
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| Specimens | A Fly, member of the family Protobrachyceridae inside Diptera | ||
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| Isolated wings | A Fly, type member of the family Protopleciidae inside Diptera. | ||
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| Isolated Wings | Flies, member of the family Protorhyphidae inside Diptera | ||
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| Isolated Wings | A Moth fly, member of the family Psychodidae inside Diptera. |
Echinodermata
[edit]In Dobbertin, the echinoderm remains are rare in contrast to foraminifera, phyllopods and ostracods, yet in some places they attain a percentage of the total fauna between 0.7 and 26.5%.[6] In the upper layers they're totally absent, as well on the erratics and in the whole Grimmen sequence.[76]
| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indeterminate |
|
| Indeterminate Crinoid remains. This group has very limited/scarce record on the facies | ||
| Indeterminate |
|
| A sea Cucumbers of uncertain placement. Remains of this group are very rare on the layers. | ||
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| A Brittle Star, member of Ophioleucidae inside Ophioleucida. Identified as Ophiura longivertebralis. The majority of the Echinoderm material found belong to this genus and overall to Ophiuroids. This can be related to the fact some Ophiuroids are more tolerant with Brackish waters. |
Vertebrates
[edit]Fishes
[edit]Actinopteri
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Incomplete skull | A marine Osteichthyes, type member of the Dapediidae inside Neopterygii. |  | |
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| Articulated, but incompletely preserved specimens | A marine Osteichthyes, member of the family Pholidophoriformes inside Teleostei. Found Exclusively on the Green Series, this genus was a small 'pholidophoriform' teleost. The total length remains unknown due to poor preservation, but probably does not exceed 100 mm. | ||
|
| Almost complete left prearticular with dentition | A marine Osteichthyes, Member of the order Pycnodontiformes inside Neopterygii. Is of comparatively small size, suggesting a hypothetical small standard length of the fish of about 7–10 cm at the time of death.[79] It is a taxon that shows clear adaptations to durophagy, inferring a predominant diet of especially hard food items.[79] | ||
|
| GPIH 4864, Hyomandibula | A marine Osteichthyes, member of the Chondrosteidae inside Acipenseriformes. | ||
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| Various specimens | A marine Osteichthyes, member of the family Lepidotidae inside Lepisosteiformes. Various species of the genus probably lived in the zone, yet the relationships of the fossils weren't studied. |  | |
| Indeterminate |
| GG 439/4-7 scales | The oldest confirmed true Gar, member of the Lepisosteidae inside Lepisosteiformes. The oldest reliable lepisosteiform remains. |  | |
| Indeterminate |
|
| A marine Osteichthyes, member of the family Leptolepidae inside Teleostei. | ||
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| A marine Osteichthyes, type member of the family Leptolepidae inside Teleostei. The most abundant vertebrate recovered on the formation, including 3D preserved specimens, as well, is the main component of the Fishbone sandstones from the upper layers. |  | |
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| Brackish/Freshwater Osteichthyes otoliths of the family Lycopteroidea inside Lycopteriformes. | ||
| Mengius[87] |
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| A marine/Brackish Osteichthyes, member of the family Lepidotidae inside Lepisosteiformes. Stomach content is also preserved on a specimen from Dobbertin, and is composed by arthropod cuticles.[88] | |
| Indeterminate |
| Unknown, only cited. | A marine Osteichthyes, member of the family Pachycormiformes inside Teleostei. The first find of the group in the region. | ||
|
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| A marine Osteichthyes, member of the family Pholidophoriformes inside Teleostei. |  | |
| Indeterminate |
|
| A marine Osteichthyes, member of the family Pholidophoriformes inside Teleostei. Resmble Pholidophoroides crenulata and P. limbata. | ||
|
|
| A Freshwater/brackish/marine Osteichthyes, type member of the family Saurichthyidae inside Chondrostei. This genus is known mostly from the late Triassic deposits on Europe, making its appearance on Toarcian strata superficially dubious. It can be a member of the genus Saurorhynchus, although this last one has never been found on Brackish-Prodeltaic Strata. |  | |
|
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| A marine/brackish Osteichthyes, the youngest representative of the family Saurichthyidae inside Chondrostei. Distinctive for its large jaws, similar to modern Belonidae, it is a genus known from several locations across Europe on the Lower-Middle Jurassic. |  | |
| P. sp. |
|
| A marine Osteichthyes, member of the family Leptolepidae inside Teleostei. Proleptolepis in the lower Toarcian of Grimmen suggests that this genus might have had a much wider palaeobiogeographical and temporal distribution, since specimens attributed to Proleptolepis have previously been reported only from the Sinemurian of western Europe. | ||
|
|
| A marine Osteichthyes, member of the family Semionotidae inside Semionotiformes. Dapedium and Tetragonolepis may have used alternative strategies in order to partition food resources efficiently and avoid direct competition. |  |
Chondrichthyes
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| A marine Shark, member of the Hybodontiformes. Related to Hybodus hauffianus and other genera from the south of Germany. A Pliensbachian-aged deposit from Grimmen outcrop has revelated a pretty diverse Chondrichthyan fauna, including two species of the genus: Hybodus reticulatus & Hybodus hauffianus.[90] |
|
Sarcopterygii
[edit]| Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. sp. |
|
| A freshwater lungfish, type member of the Ceratodontidae inside Ceratodontiformes. Can be related to the Polish Triassic species Ceratodus silesiacus (Roemer, 1870), known from several isolated tooth plates found in the lacustrine Triassic horizon of Krasiejów. Several impressions of scales found in other boreholes can also belong to lungfish. The tooth plates were found at +819 m depth on Pomerania, on a layer with gray-green mudstone, lenticular lamination and siderite concretions. The abundance of megaspores indicate a deltaic or brackish environment. |  |
Ichthyosaurs
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indeterminate |
|
| An indeterminate ichthyosaur. | ||
| Indeterminate |
| Four articulated tail vertebrae. | An indeterminate ichthyosaur, has been assigned to the species Stenopterygius longifrons. | ||
| Indeterminate |
| Partial skull and associated postcranial elements preserved in a concretion | An indeterminate ichthyosaur. It has an expanded basipterygoid process on the basisphenoid, only currently known in members of the Ophthalmosauridae | ||
|
| Posterior left half of the cranium. | An Icthyosaur of the family Stenopterygiidae inside Thunnosauria. A common Toarcian Ichthyosaur, present on multiple layers. The rather exquisite level of preservation has led to know even the coloration. | ||
|
|
| An Icthyosaur, type member of Temnodontosauridae inside Neoichthyosauria. Assigned to Ichthyosaurus sp., but also suggested affinities to "Leptopterygius" (= Temnodontosaurus) platyodon. |  |
Sauropterygia
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| A pliosauroid, member of the family Rhomaleosauridae inside Pliosauroidea. |  | |
| Indeterminate |
|
| A marine plesiosaur, member of the family Plesiosauria inside Sauropterygia. Non assigned to a concrete genus, probably are related to the Plesiosaurian genera from the Posidonia Shale | ||
| Indeterminate |
|
| A marine plesiosaur, member of the family Plesiosauria inside Sauropterygia. Non assigned to a concrete genus, probably are related to the Plesiosaurian genera from the Posidonia Shale | ||
|
|
| A plesiosaur, member of the family Plesiosauridae inside Plesiosauroidea. Related with the German Realm Fauna |  |
Crocodyliformes
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Incomplete skull and associated osteoderm | A marine Crocodrylomorph, member of the family Machimosauridae inside Teleosauroidea. A marine crocodylomorph with a diet probably based on fish. It was identified as Steneosaurus. Although highly incomplete, the preserved maximum antorbital width of about 50 mm demonstrates that GG 422/6 can be clearly referred to an immature individual. |  | |
| Indeterminate |
| Cervical vertebra | A Crocodrilian, member of Mesoeucrocodylia. This cervical vertebra has resemblances with terrestrial suchians, such as Dianchungosaurus, but also cervicals of Sichuanosuchus. Is considered to come from an osteologically immature individual. |  | |
|
| Partial rostrum with teeth | A marine Crocodrylomorph, member of the family Teleosauridae inside Teleosauroidea. The tooth morphology and the internal rostral anatomy indicate that it can be positively referred to a longistrine thalattosuchian crocodyliform. The size of PLM uncatalogued, as compared to the corresponding portions of the rostra of other Toarcian thalattosuchians, is indicative of a juvenile individual, with expected around 200–250 mm long skull and the entire animal about 1.50 m.[93] | ||
| Indeterminate |
|
| A Crocodrylomorph, member of the family Thalattosuchia inside Neosuchia. Distinctive of the marine teleosaurid genus Macrospondylus. |
Pterosauria
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indeterminate |
| GG 510, fragmentary tibiofibular(?) | A possible Pterosaur Bone, with features similar to the tibiofibular of coeval taxon Dorygnathus banthensis. Alternatively it can be another type of bone and belong to stem-turtles, plesiosaurs, dinosaurs or even anurans.[99] |  |
Dinosauria
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Right side of the skull, the right lower jaw, caudal vertebrae, neural arches, a radius, a metatarsal, a claw, fragments of ribs, scutes and plates.[101] | An Ornithischian, basal member of Thyreophora inside Genasauria. Its juvenile status makes controversial its phylogeny, being considered a relative of the also Early Jurassic Genus Scelidosaurus.[101] The compacted pile of disarticulated cranial and postcranial elements of the basal thyreophoran Emausaurus has been suspected to be a Speiballen (i.e., a compacted mass of indigestible stomach contents) regurgitated by a large marine reptile.[101] |  | |
| Indeterminate |
|
| A Saurischian, member of the clade Gravisauria inside Sauropoda. The specimen is believed to be a juvenile, based on the ossification and unfused spine. Has affinities with the genus Tazoudasaurus and it is clearly distinctive form the also Toarcian Ohmdenosaurus, who is thought to be more basal. The pelvic girdle elements can be clearly placed among the Sauropoda, on account of the presence of an elongated and strongly dorsally expanded iliac preacetabular process a possible relative. The ischia GG411/3-4 resemble those of Tazoudasaurus in exhibiting a subtriangular iliac peduncle which create a short anteriorly directed expansion to reach the medial acetabular rim, and are slightly less developed than the Genus Barapasaurus. |  | |
| Indeterminate |
| Dorsal Vertebrae | A Saurischian, member of the family Megalosauridae inside Tetanurae. Was referred to Megalosaurus. The affinities of the Specimen aren't clear due to its fragmentary nature. Has been classified as Saurischia indeterminate, although shows clearly characters of the Orionides group (concave articular surfaces and a dished lateral pleurocoel, remnants of the neural arch and postzygapophyses).[103] The vertebrae centrum measures 80 mm, implying a medium-sized theropod (~5 m long). Can be related with Yunyangosaurus. |  | |
| Indeterminate |
| GG 504, osteoderm | An Ornithischian, basal member of Thyreophora inside Genasauria. Interpreted as representing a lateral osteoderm of the neck or shoulder region of an early diverging thyreophoran |
Plantae
[edit]Coals
[edit].jpg)
The Łęka Coal Basin has been known since 1800 for its abundant deposits; younger material has been suggested as redeposited from the Paleozoic, but the basin primarily yields a series of Pliensbachian-Toarcian coals. In the Early Jurassic the Blanowice Formation was surrounded by land on the north, east and south, the source of sediment which was deposited as nearshore coal. This coal is abundant in the upper part of the formation, dominated by alluvial and lacustrine sand and coal-bearing sediments.[105] Organic matter associated with the coal includes the oldest known biomolecules (in the Mrzygłód clay-pit), composed of labdanoic acid, ferruginol, sugiol and 7-oxototarol.[105] The extracted samples were recovered at the Wysoka Lelowska 47Ż and Jaworznik 124Ż boreholes; five core samples were taken from the Żarki 90Ż core, the latter from an approximately 1.5-metre (4 ft 11 in) coal seam.[105] The random reflectance (%Rr) of the coals is 0.47–0.56, indicating sub-bituminous coal.[105] The geochemical data suggest low-maturity sediments,[105] and hopane isomers are relatively high in all samples.[105] This is confirmed by unstable biomolecules in the coal samples, including labdanoic acid, ferruginol, sugiol, oxototarol, beta-sitosterol and cholesterol.[105]
The coals are generally dominated by vitrinite macerals, except for a high percentage of inertinite. This indicates wildfires or peat fires, confirmed by charcoal fragments.[105] Sesquiterpenes and diterpenes, common in conifers, angiosperms and bryophytes, were also recovered from the coal.[106] Vitrinite has a reflectance value of 0.49-0.56 %Ro. The cupressaceae and podocarpaceae families are considered the main peat-forming plant species, due to the presence of phenolic abietanes and dehydroabietic acids.[105] Lignite indicates significant benzohopane derivatives in the surrounding sandstones, probable differences in biodegradation, and a typically low coalification range.[107] Later, larger studies note the influence of fires on the region.[108]
The Kaszewy coals, found in an approximately 150-metre (490 ft) section of terrestrial and marine siliciclastic sediments in the Kaszewy-1 and Niekłan PIG-1 boreholes, are the Ciechocinek Formation's major coals.[108] This section was in a nearshore-deltaic setting, with increased terrestrial and marine organic matter reflecting increased weathering and transport of terrestrial matter.[108] Abundant fossil charcoal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been found. The number of coarse fossil charcoal particles (larger than 125 micrometers) in the Pliensbachian-Toarcian sections of the Kaszewy-1 core is very low (0-15 particles/10 g sediment), and fine charcoal particles (<125 μm) are more abundant (~12,000–256,000 particles/10 g sediment); there are also more non-charcoal particles.[108] There are more fine charcoal particles at the beginning of the Toarcian, reflecting environmental changes. In the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the pyrolytics (benz-anthracene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, phenanthrene and pyrene) were detected in a wide variety of samples; phenanthrene is the most abundant component and coronene the least, suggesting the burning of organic matter.[108] Petrogenics are more abundant on the coal samples than pyrolytics, suggesting low wildfire activity.[108] Although the Kaszewy-1 borehole did not indicate increased wildfire activity, the fine fossil-charcoal abundance and pyrolytic concentration indicate regional wildfires.[108] Pyrolytics indicating the increased wildfire activity match the beginning of the Toarcian anoxic event, with intervals of fewer wildfires.[108] Wildfire changes match the Lower Toarcian negative carbon-isotopes emissions measured on the, which probably promoted a rise in atmospheric oxygen. Some questions remain; the climate was warmer and wetter (which can suppress wildfire activity), and wildfires persisted in the Kazewy-1 borehole wildfire activity was successfully sustained.[108] Wildfires may have subsided due to a lack of suitable fuel.[108]
Resins
[edit]| Type | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fossil Resin[105] |
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| The local Resins containing sesqui-and diterpenoids that are produced by species of all contemporary conifer families, and in especially large amounts by Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, and Araucariaceae. The linked occurrence of inertinite, charcoal fragments, etc. show local Pliensbachian/Toarcian wildfires and/or peat fires.[105] | .jpg) |
Floral Remains
[edit]Polish Lower Toarcian palynology is assigned to the Paxillitriletes phyllicus (Ph) level (Isoetales), due to the abundance of this genus.[109] The lower part of the Toarcian level has numerous occurrences of this species, sometimes before the genera Erlansonisporites sparassis (Selaginella-like) and Minerisporites volucris (Isoetaceae) in the Gorzów Wlkp. IG 1 borehole.[109] The upper part contains less of the genus.[109] The most common species found on Poland in this era include Erlansonisporites sparassis, E. excavatus, Minerisporites volucris and Biharisporites scaber (Lycopodiopsida); Aneuletes potera and Trileites murrayi (both Selaginella) are found on the upper levels.[109] The Toarcian disturbance of the carbon cycle recorded on the Ciechocinek Formation, coincides roughly with the appearance of Paxillitriletes phyllicus. The type of dominant palynomorphs recovered changed from pollen grains during the Upper Pliensbachian to megaspores, indicating a climatic change from moderate and relatively dry to warm and humid in the early Toarcian.[109] This shift in local climate correlates with a global maritime transgression in which volcanism in the Karoo-Ferrar large igneous provinces raised the global temperature and disrupted the carbon cycle, creating a major greenhouse effect.[109] The prevalence of megaspore Paxillitriletes phyllicus correlate with warmth and humidity; the flora, dominated by the family Isoetaceae, requires standing water to reproduce.[109] The megaespore Paxillitriletes phyllicus then drops significantly, indicating a return to a more moderate climate during sedimentation of the younger Borucice Formation.[109]
The Blanowice Coals fossil wood from Zawiercie area were already described in 1917 as “Blanowicer Keuperholz”, on the basis of specimens from the “Elka”, “Kamilla” and “Zygmunt” coal pits, claimed to be xylologically similar, yet no taxon was named and the collection was not preserved.[110] Based on recent revisions of the local flora, likely belong to Agathoxylon.
The Lublin upland fluvial sandstones contain diverse fossil flora, associated genera and species with Lower Jurassic sediments. Carboniferous flora, similar to that of Jurassic formations, appeared in boreholes near the planned Bogdanka Coal Mine.[111] The age of the plant material was not determined until 2020, when it was identified as Lower Toarcian (with some Late Pliensbachian strata).[112] The Brody-Lubienia borehole is abundant in terrestrial palynomorphs and aquatic biomass.[112] The sediments from Brody-Lubienia have a more-terrestrial character, indicated by the frequent occurrence of plant roots and paleosol horizons;[112] moisture was probably fresh (not saline) water.[112] The environment was probably dry, developing flora near freshwater inflow from the east.[112]
The Lublin lias is dominated by cycads and Bennetites Ginkgoales. Ferns occur sporadically in the bottom of the Toarcian, where deposits are filled with coal, mudstone, sandstone and clay siderite (reworked from the Carboniferous) and pebbles from Devonian limestones.[113] Similar boreholes and nearby deposits indicate the end of a river which transported Devonian-Carboniferous deposits from the northeast to the aquatic inland environment.[113] Vegetation grew primarily outside the sedimentation area, on shores and in shallow water.[114]
At Ahrensburg there are plant remains in all horizons: wood, plant chaff and, in the Eleganticeras layers, nutty fruits, Araucariaceous cones, conifer branches, horsetail, etc.[19]
Bryophyta
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Affinities with Anthocerotaceae (specially Phaeoceros, Megaceros) inside Bryophyta. Moss spores from humid settings | _1077.JPG) | |
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| Affinities with Anthocerotaceae inside Bryophyta. Moss spores from humid settings |  | |
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| Affinities with Sphagnopsida inside Sphagnales. Spores nearly identical to that one found associated with the modern moss genus Sphagnum. Moss related to high humid environments. |  |
Lycophyta
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Affinities with the Selaginellaceae inside Lycopsida. Herbaceous Lycophyte flora, similar to Ferns, ralated with Humid Settings. This Family of Spores are also the most diverse on the Formation. | ||
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| Affinities with the Selaginellaceae inside Lycopsida. | ||
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| Affinities with the Selaginellaceae inside Lycopsida. | ||
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| Affinities with Lycopodiaceae inside Lycopodiopsida. Resemble spores of the modern genus Lycopodium. If it belongs to a similar genus, represent low herbaceous flora spores. | ||
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| Affinities with the Selaginellaceae inside Lycopsida. | ||
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| Affinities with the Selaginellaceae inside Lycopsida. | ||
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| Affinities with the Selaginellaceae inside Lycopsida. | ||
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| spores | Affinities with the Selaginellaceae inside Lycopsida. | ||
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| Affinities with Lycopodiaceae inside Lycopodiopsida. | ||
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| Affinities with the Selaginellaceae inside Lycopsida. | ||
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| Affinities with Lycopodiaceae inside Lycopodiopsida. |  | |
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| Affinities with the Selaginellaceae inside Lycopsida. | ||
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| Affinities with the Isoetales inside Lycophyta. Spores related to modern Isoetes, representing Small plants related to water bodies. Paxillitriletes comprises the main Megaspore zonation of the Toarcian of Poland, being the most abundant spore found on the Ciechocinek Formation, and the genus that marks the start of the strata. The Abundance of this genus along with Minerisporites institus points to very humid conditions during almost the entire T-OAE, upwards from CIE step 2 of the carbon isotope curves. |  | |
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| Affinities with the Selaginellaceae inside Lycopsida. | ||
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| Affinities with the Selaginellaceae inside Lycopsida. | ||
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Equisetidae
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Affinities with Equisetopsida inside Equisetopsida. Found endemically on the Polish basin and adjacent areas. | .JPG) | |
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Filicopsida
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Spores | Affinities with the family Osmundaceae inside Polypodiopsida. Near Fluvial currents ferns, reted to the modern Osmunda Regalis. | _-_Cape_St._Mary%27s_Ecological_Reserve,_Newfoundland_2019-08-10.jpg) | |
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| Affinities with the Matoniaceae inside Polypodiidae. | ||
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| Affinities with the Schizaeaceae inside Schizaeales. Represents large spores from herbaceous ferns, that are more abundant on the south of the Toarcian polish basin than on the north. | ||
| Cyathidites[117][118][125][116] |
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| Spores | Affinities with Cyatheaceae inside Cyatheales. Cyathidites minor almost certainly belong to well known Mesozoic species Coniopteris hymenophylloides and to other fossil cyatheaceous or dicksoniaceous ferns such as Eboracia lobifolia and Dicksonia mariopteri. | _(14820801765).jpg) |
| Crybelosporites[120][121][125][116] |
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| Affinities with the Marsileaceae inside Salviniales. Represents spore from fully aquatic ferns, found associated with fluvial or deltaic deposits, where probably formed large underwater colonies. |  |
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| Spores | Affinities with Dennstaedtiaceae inside Pteridophyta. Floor Herbaceous ferns, probably from covered forest areas. | .jpg) | |
| Gleicheniidites[120][121][125][116] |
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| Affinities with the Gleicheniaceae inside Polypodiidae. Resemble the modern Gleichenia Spores, and probably represent a similar genus or a member of it. Fern related to large colonies, found mostly on humid environments. |  |
| Ischyosporites[120][121][116] |
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| Affinities with the genus Dicksoniaceae inside Polypodiopsida. Tree fern spores | _C.Chr._by_Jason_Hollinger_001.jpg) |
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| Affinities with the Schizaeaceae inside Schizaeales. | ||
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| Affinities with the Blechnaceae inside Filicopsida. |  | |
| Maculatisporites[116] |
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| Spores | Affinities with Cyatheaceae inside Cyatheales. | |
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| Incertae Sedis affinities with the Pteridophyta. | ||
| Marattisporites[120][121][125] |
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| Affinities with the Marattiaceae inside Polypodiidae. Resemble the modern Marattia spores, probably belonging to a similar genus, related with large sized herbaceous ferns of humid environments. |  |
| Matonisporites[120][121][125] |
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| Affinities with the Matoniaceae inside Polypodiidae. The so-called comb-ferns, found forming large colonies on humid settings. |  |
| Thuringiasporites[120][121] |
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| Affinities with Cyatheaceae inside Cyatheales. | |
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| Spores | Affinities with the family Osmundaceae inside Polypodiopsida. | ||
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| Incertae Sedis affinities with the Pteridophyta. Uncertain Pteridophyte origin | ||
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| Affinities with the Anemiaceae inside Schizaeales. |  |
Cycadeoidophyta
[edit]| Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Affinities with Williamsoniaceae the inside Bennettitales. Very abundant Pollen. |  | |
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| Pollen | Affinities with the family Zamiaceae inside Cycadales. Is among the most abundant flora recovered on the upper section of the coeval Rya Formation, and was found to be similar to the pollen of the extant Encephalartos laevifolius.[126] |  | |
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| Affinities with the family Cycadaceae inside Cycadales. The structure of the exine of Clavatipollenites hughesii from Jurassic deposits is fundamentally different from that of Cretaceous grains referred to the same species, confirming observations made previously on the basis of analysis under the light microscope, and suggesting a possible derivation from cycadalean rather than angiospermous plants.[127] |  | |
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| Affinities with the Cycadeoidaceae inside Bennettitales. |