The Solnhofen Limestone or Solnhofen Plattenkalk is a collective term for multiple Late Jurassic lithographic limestones in southeastern Germany, which is famous for its well-preserved fossil flora and fauna dating to the late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian-Tithonian). The paleoenvironment is also often referred to as the Solnhofen Archipelago. The Solnhofen Archipelago was located at the northern edge of the Tethys Ocean as part of a shallow epicontinental sea and is firmly a part of the Mediterranean realm.
Chondrichthyes
Holocephali +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesChimaeropsisC. paradoxaSolnhofen, EichstättAltmühltal FormationFragmentary cranial remains and one complete specimenHolotype destroyed in WW2 air raidIschyodusI. egertoniEichstätt, WattendorfAltmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationMultiple complete specimensElasmodectesE. avitusEichstätt, Blumenberg, WintershofAltmühltal FormationMultiple complete specimensChimaerothecaC. schernfeldensisSchernfeldEgg capsules of an unknown chimaera
Elasmobranchii +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesHybodus (Egertonodus?)H. fraasiSolnhofenAltmühltal FormationAlmost complete but poorly preserved specimenAsteracanthusA. ornatissimusSolnhofenAltmühltal FormationSingle almost complete specimen of a 2 meter long femaleStrophodusS. spMühlheimMörnsheim FormationArticulated set of jaws and teeth
Neoselachii +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesGeorgaelloG. elongataKelheimAltmühltal FormationPartial holomorphic specimenG. wagneriSolnhofen? (or Pappenheim or Eichstätt?)Altmühltal FormationPartial holomorphic specimenSynechodusS. ungeriSolnhofenAltmühltal FormationAlmost complete skeleton and isolated teethParaorthacodusP. jurensisHaunsfeld, Blumenberg, Schernfeld, SolnhofenAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimensMacrourogaleusM. hasseiEichstättAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimens
Batomorphi +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesAsterodermusA. platypterusSolnhofen, Kelheim, Blumenberg, BirkhofAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimensMedium-sized asterodermid measuring up to in lengthApolithabatisA. seiomaPaintenTorleite FormationOne complete specimenLarge asterodermid measuring long with a heart-shaped diskAellopobatisA. bavaricaSolnhofen, Eichstätt, Zandt, Kelheim, LangenaltheimAltmühltal Formation, Painten FormationSeveral complete specimensA large asterodermid reaching up to long, characterized by its exceptionally long rostrumSpathobatisS. bugesiacusSolnhofen, Eichstätt, Zandt, Kelheim, LangenaltheimAltmühltal Formation, Painten FormationSeveral complete specimensAll Solnhofen specimens referred to Spathobatis have been reassigned to the genus Aellopobatis.RajithecaR. sp.Several specimens in private collectionsEgg capsules of batomorphs
Heterodontiformes +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesParacestracionP. falciferSolnhofen? EichstättAltmühltal FormationComplete skeleton, potentially more specimensP. viohliSchamhauptenTorleite FormationSingle incomplete skeletonP. danieliEichstättAltmühltal FormationSingle incomplete skeletonHeterodontusH. zitteliEichstättAltmühltal FormationSingle complete skeleton lacking teeth, several other specimens may be referrable
Orectolobiformes +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesPhorcynisP. catulinaEichstätt, Zandt, BlumenbergAltmühltal FormationSeveral skeletonsPalaeorectolobusP. agomphiusKelheimAltmühltal FormationOne incomplete specimen
Carcharhiniformes +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesBavariscylliumB. tischlingeriEichstättAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimensPalaeoscylliumP. formosumSolnhofenAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimensScyliorhinothecaS. spegg capsule of a catshark
Lamniformes +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesPalaeocarchariasP. stromeriEichstätt, Kelheim, SolnhofenAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimensOne of the oldest known lamniiformes, though more reminiscent in appearance to modern carpet sharks
Hexanchiformes +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesCrassodontidanusC. serratusEichstätt, DaitingAltmühltal FormationIsolated TeethA crassodontidNotidanoidesN. muensteriEichstätt, DaitingAltmühltal FormationIsolated teeth, one almost complete skeleton was presumably destroyed during WW2. Another incomplete skeleton of the genus is known from the Nusplingen limestoneLarge crassodontid with a wide distribution, being also known from England, France and RussiaArchaeogracilidensA. macerSolnhofen, MühlheimAltmühltal Formation, Mörnsheim FormationIsolated teeth and two fragmentary disarticulated skeletonsOrthacodid previously referred to by the genus "Sphenodus"; however, the holotype teeth designated for Sphenodus are undiagnostic, which is why a new genus was established for the remains from Solnhofen and Nusplingen. The species "S." nitidus is regarded as a synonym of A. macer
Squatiniformes +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesPseudorhinaP. acanthodermaAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimensAn angelshark reaching up to 140 cm in length. Occurrence of this taxon in the Solnhofen Archipelago is uncertain, all definitive representatives of this species come from the Nusplingen LimestoneP. aliferaEichstättAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimensAn angelshark reaching up to 60 cm in length
Other +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesProtospinaxP. annectansSolnhofen, EichstättAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimens
Osteognathostomata
Chondostrei Genus Species LocalityFormationMaterial Notes ImagesCoccolepis"Table 1; Chondrostei; Coccolepidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.C. bucklandiEichstätt, BlumenbergAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete SpecimensC. solnhofensisSolnhofenAltmühltal Formation
Pycnodontiformes Genus SpeciesLocalityFormation Material NotesImagesArduafronsA. prominorisBlumenberg, Wintershof, PaintenAltmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationSeveral complete specimensApomesodonA. comosusEichstättAltmühltal FormationA. spEichstätt, PaintenAltmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationEomesodon"Table 1; Halecostomi; Pycnodontiformes" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.E. gibbosusBlumenberg, Wintershof, PaintenAltmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationSeveral complete specimensGyrodusG. circularisEichstätt, PaintenAltmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationDozens of complete specimensG. hexagonusSolnhofen, Eichstätt, Painten, Schamhaupten, BrunnAltmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationDozens of complete specimensMesturusM. verrucosusEichstätt, PaintenAltmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationSeveral complete specimensMacromesodonM. heckeliM. macropterusKelheimTorleite FormationPiranhamesodonP. pinnatomusEttlingSingular partial skeletonProscinetesP. elegansEichstätt. EttlingAltmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationDozens of complete specimensP. formosusP. bernardiSchamhaupten, Ettling, PaintenTorleite FormationSeveral complete specimensThiollierepycnodusT. wagneriWattendorfTorleite FormationTurbomesodonT. relegansEichstätt, EttlingAltmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationTurboscinetesT. egertoniEttling
Ginglymodi
Lepisosteiformes Genus Species LocalityFormationMaterial NotesImages"Lepidotes""L." decoratus"L." intermedius"L." oblongus"L." pustulosus"L." subovatus"L." unguiculatusScheenstia"Table 1; Halecostomi; Semionotidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.S. maximusS. decoratusS. zappiSchamhauptenTorleite FormationSingle almost complete specimen
Semionotiformes Genus Species LocalityFormationMaterial Notes ImagesCallipurbeckiaC. notopterusMacrosemimimusM. fegertiEttlingMultiple complete specimens
Macrosemiidae Genus Species LocalityFormationMaterial NotesImagesHistionotus"Table 1; Halecostomi; Macrosemiidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.H. oberndorferiKelheimTorleite FormationTwo incomplete specimensMacrosemiusM. rostratusEichstätt, Solnhofen, PaintenAltmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationDozens of complete specimensM. fournetiBrunnTorleite FormationOne complete specimenNotagogusN. decoratusN. denticulatusEichstätt, Schamhaupten, Painten, Brunn, Ettling?Altmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationDozens of complete specimensPalaeomacrosemiusP. thiollieriEichstätt, Solnhofen, EttlingAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimensPropterusP. elongatusEichstättAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimensP. microstomusEichstättAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimensEusemius?E. beataeVoelklichthysV. comitatusPaintenTorleite FormationSingular specimen
Dapediiformes Genus Species LocalityFormationMaterial Notes Images Heterostrophus"Table 1; Halecostomi; 'Halecostomi inc. sed.'" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216. H. latusSolnhofenAltmühltal Formation
Halecomorphi
Ionoscopidae Genus Species LocalityFormationMaterial NotesImagesAiniaA. agassiziBrunnTorleite FormationAltmuehlfuroA. boomerangBrachyichthysB. radiato-puncatusB. typicusIonoscopus"Table 1; Halecomorphi; Ionoscopidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.I. cyprinoidesEichstättAltmühltal FormationI. desoriZandtTorleite FormationI. esocinusI. münsteriI. striatissimus"Furo""F." angustusSolnhofen, Schamhaupten, ZandtAltmühltal Formation, Torleite Formation"F." longiserratusEichstätt, Solnhofen, Kelheim, ZandtAltmühltal Formation, Torleite Formation"F." latimanusSolnhofen, EichstättAltmühltal FormationOphiopsisO. muensteriKelheim, Brunn, EttlingOphiopsiellaO. attenuataO. brevicepsO. proceraSchernfeldfuroS. uweelleriEichstättAltmühltal FormationZandtfuroZ. tischlingeriZandtTorleite Formation
Amiiformes +GenusSpeciesLocalityFormationMaterialNotesImagesAmblysemiusA. bellicianusEichstättAltmühltal FormationA. pachyurus"A." granulatusKelheimAltmühltal FormationCaturusC. furcatusKelheim, Solnhofen, Ettling, Wattendorf?Altmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationSeveral complete specimensC. brevicostatusKelheim, Eichstätt, SolnhofenAltmühltal FormationSeveral complete specimensC. enkopicaudalisEichstätt, Solnhofen, Schernfeld, Langenaltheim, PaintenAltmühltal Formation, Painten FormationSeveral complete specimensSpecies of Caturus most prominently distinguished by the unique shape of its double emarginate caudal fin"C." macrurusKelheimAltmühltal Formation"C." latusSolnhofenAltmühltal Formation"C." granulatusKelheimAltmühltal Formation"C." feroxSolnhofenAltmühltal Formation"Furo""F." microlepidotusEichstättAltmühltal FormationStrobilodusS. giganteusPaintenTorleite FormationLiodesmusL. gracilisSolnhofenAltmühltal FormationSynonym of Caturus brevicostatusNasrinotoudehichthysN. sprattiformisZandtPainten FormationLophiurus?L. minutusAmiopsisA. lepidotaEichstätt, Solnhofen, EttlingAltmühltal FormationSolnhofenamiaS. elongataEichstättAltmühltal Formation
Pleuropholidae Genus Species LocalityFormationMaterial NotesImages Pleuropholis"Table 1; Teleostei; Pleuropholidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216. P. laevissimaDaiting, PaintenMörnsheim Formation, Torleite FormationP. pompeckiP. wagneri
Pachycormidae Genus Species LocalityFormationMaterial NotesImagesAsthenocormus"Table 1; Halecostomi; Pachycormidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.A. titaniusEichstätt, PaintenAltmühltal Formation, Torleite FormationHypsocormusH. insignisObereichstätt, SolnhofenAltmühltal FormationH. macrodonLeedsichthys?L. spOrthocormusO. cornutusBirkhof, Blumenberg, SchernfeldAltmühltal FormationO. roeperiBrunnTorleite FormationO. teyleri?SchamhauptenTorleite FormationPseudoasthenocormusNote: Lambers abbreviated Pseudoasthenocormus as "Pseudoasth.," "Table 1; Halecostomi; Pachycormidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.P. retrodorsalisLangenaltheimAltmühltal FormationPachycormidaeIndeterminateWattendorfTorleite FormationGiant skull fragment of a presumably 4 meter long pachycormidSauropsisS. longimanusEichstätt, BlumenbergAltmühltal FormationS. depressusBlumenberg, Schernfeld, EichstättAltmühltal FormationSimocormusS. macrolepidotusSolnhofen, EichstättAltmühltal Formation
Aspidorhynchidae