The Süntel Formation, previously known as the Kimmeridge Formation (German: "Mittlerer Kimmeridge"; Middle Kimmeridge),Lallensack et al., 2015, p.4 is a geological formation in Germany. It is Late Jurassic in age, spanning the early to late Kimmeridgian stage. It predominantly consists of limestone deposited in shallow marine carbonate ramp conditions.
Description
The formation is part of the Lower Saxony Basin that borders the Süntel massif of the Lower Saxon Hills, part of the larger Harz Mountains. The formation is described as alternations of glauconitic marl, limestone and sandstone.Bai et al., 2017
Paleontological significance The formation is known for its fossils, with the Langenberg Quarry having provided fossils of numerous vertebrates.
Dinosaurs Dinosaurs of the Süntel Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images Allosauroidea indet.Langenberg QuarryBed 83DfMMh/FV1/19, small pedal ungual, cf. DfMMh/FV/343, small pedal phalanx AllosaurusA. sp.TeethTeeth referable to Allosaurus. cf. Ceratosauria indet.DfMMh/FV/776, anterior chevron Europasaurus E. holgeri Disarticulated remains representing numerous individuals Brachiosauridae Sauropod cf. Megalosauroidea indet.IndeterminateDfMMh/FV/287, left fibula Stegosauridae indet.Wings, 2015 (SMTV - pages 99-100) IndeterminateTeeth cf. Tetanurae indet.IndeterminateDfMMh/FV/105, distal caudal vertebra Theropoda indet.IndeterminateDfMMh/FV2/19, a small pedal phalanx III-1, DfMMh/FV3/19, proximal part of a small right fibulacf.TorvosaurusIndeterminateTeethTeeth regarded as likely referable to Torvosaurus.
Turtles Turtles of the Süntel Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images Eucryptodira indet. IndeterminateLangenberg Quarry Bed 73 Juvenile carapace with disarticulated skull and right forelimb Plesiochelys Indeterminate cf. Thalassemys Indeterminate DFMMh/FV 296, "skull part (articulated quadrate, squamosal, basisphenoid, and pterygoid), a disarticulated 40 cm long partial carapace, plastron, and one cervical vertebra."
Squamates Squamates of the Süntel Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images Paramacellodidae indet. Indeterminate Langenberg Quarry Partial skeleton
Pterosaurs Pterosaurs of the Süntel Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images ?Dsungaripteridae indet. Indeterminate Langenberg Quarry DFMMh/FV 500, an articulated partial skeleton consisting of "10 thoracic vertebrae, complete pelvis and sacrum, left and right femur" with an associated possible partial right tibia.
Crocodyliformes Crocodyliformes of the Süntel Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images Goniopholis G. simusLangenberg Quarry Knoetschkesuchus K. langenbergensis Bed 83 two partial skeletons and various isolated bones Atoposaurid Machimosaurus M. hugii Steneosaurus S. brevirostris Rostrum, jaw and postcranial remains
Mammaliaforms Mammaliaforms of the Süntel Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images Cimbriodon C. multituberculatusLangenberg QuarryBed 83 upper and lower p3, p4 and p5 molars Paulchoffatiid multituberculate DocodonD. hercynicustwo lower molarsDocodontidD. spdistal fragment of lower molarDocodontid Dryolestida indet. Indeterminate TeutonodonT. langenbergensisNLMH 105650, upper right M1 Pinheirodontid multituberculate HercynodonH. germanicusNLMH 105668, left upper molar, NLMH 105669-70 right upper molars, NLMH 105671 left lower molarDryolestid Paulchoffatiidae indet. Indeterminate NLMH 105655, left p4, NLMH 105651; m1 NLMH 105651 considered an Eobataarid by Martin et al. 2016, considered a Paulchoffatiid by Martin et al. 2019 Storchodon S. cingulatus MH 105654, a right upper molar A large morganucodont
Ichnofossils Ichnofossils of the Süntel Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images Elephantopoides E. sp. Grallator (Eubrontes) G. (Eubrontes) sp. Iguanodontipus ?I. sp.Strömer quarry tracksite Megalosauripus M. teutonicus Bruns quarry tracksite Sand-Tonkomplex Member
See also List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Germany
References
Bibliography