Paleobiota of the Posidonia Shale

18x6 m fossilized floating wood (Araucarioxylon), with Crinoids attached (Pentacrinites & Seirocrinus). It is one of the most emblematic fossils of the formation, where the anoxic seas of the lower toarcian lead to an exquisite preservation.

The Posidonia Shale or Posidonienschiefer Formation is a geological formation of southwestern Germany, northern Switzerland, western Czech Republic, northwestern Austria, southeast Luxembourg and the Netherlands, that spans about 3 million years during the Early Jurassic period (early Toarcian stage). It is known for its detailed fossils, especially sea fauna, listed below. Composed mostly by black shale, the formation is a Lagerstätte, where fossils show exceptional preservation (Including exquisite soft tissues), with a thickness that varies from about 1 m to about 40 m on the Rhine level, being on the main quarry at Holzmaden between 5 and 14 m. Some of the preserved material has been transformed into fossil hydrocarbon Jet, specially wood remains, used for jewelry. The exceptional preservation seen on the Posidonia Shale has been studied since the late 1800s, finding that a cocktail of chemical and environmental factors let to such an impressive conservation of the marine fauna. The most common theory is the changes on the oxygen level, where the different anoxic events of the Toarcian left oxygen-depleted bottom waters, with the biota dying and falling to the bottom without any predator able to eat the dead bodies.

Microbial Activity

Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon		Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Stromatolites	Non assignable Species	Teufelsgraben, Hetzles	Traces of Microbial Activity	Non-fenestrate stromatolite crusts formed in Aphotic deep-water environments during intervals of very low sedimentation. Abundant on the Precambrian, but after it, and concretely on the Jurassic-Cretaceous, the appearance of the Corallinaceae algae and related biota forced the stromatolite-forming microbes to withdraw to extreme habitats such as hypersaline lagoons and possibly to deep-water settings. On the Posidonia Shale are related with plankton, mainly coccoliths and the problematic Schizosphaerella (A Haptophytan Alga), but also typical deep-sea forms including various groups of cephalopods, and articulated skeletons of fishes and reptiles. The Stromatolites of this region have evidence of live on a deeper shelf environment with a quietwater deposit which suffered repeated phases of stagnant bottom waters, where a depth water habitat developed, probably at more than 100 meters depth. There is a thin, southern widespread Stromatolite crust on the Top of the Posidonia Shale, called "Wittelshofener Bank", that has made rethink the depth of the major southern basin of the formation, where with the absence of phototrophic calcareous benthic organisms (probably due to the lack of light), shows the deph character of the Basin. On the "Wittelshofener Bank" there is also the only occurrence of Ooids, presumably formed in the same deep-water environment.	Example of Stromatolites fossil trace, done probably by Cyanobacteria
Frutexites	Frutexites arboriformis	Teufelsgraben, Hetzles	Possible traces of Microbial Activity	Probably related with Archaea activity. Altrought Frutexites is a cryptic microfossil and an important element of many deep water stromatolites, with an Inorganic origin proposed, where are interpreted as dendritic shrubs to purely inorganic growth of Aragonitic crystals, but also resemble shrubs of the cyanobacteria Angulocellularia. On the Posidonia a cryptoendopelitic mode of life is assumed, being only possible for Heterotrophic bacteria or Fungi. As seen on the Stromatolites of the Posidonia, Frutexites acted mainly as a dweller or secondary binder of the deep-water stromatolites, not as their major constructor.

Rhizaria

Foraminifera

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Astacolus	Astacolus bochardi Astacolus primus	Buttenheim	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, member of Vaginulinidae inside the family Vaginulinida (Lagenina). An extant genus. Its shell resemble a mixture between an ammonite conch, due to having a lower spiral, and a mussel.	Drawing of an Astacolus shell
Flabellinella	Flabellinella sp.	Buttenheim	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, member of Vaginulinidae inside the family Vaginulinida (Lagenina). Its conch has a Myriapod-like segmented built.
Lenticulina	Lenticulina acutiangulata Lenticulina gottingensis Lenticulina sp.	Buttenheim Unterstürmig	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, member of Vaginulinidae inside the family Vaginulinida (Lagenina).
Vaginulina	Vaginulina simplex Vaginulina sp.	Buttenheim Unterstürmig	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, type member of Vaginulinidae inside the family Vaginulinida (Lagenina).
Palmula	Palmula cuneiformis	Buttenheim	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, member of Vaginulinidae inside the family Vaginulinida (Lagenina).
Marginulina	Marginulina oolithica Marginulina prima	Unterstürmig	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, member of Marginulininae inside the family Vaginulinida (Lagenina).
Saracenaria	Saracenaria aragonensis	Unterstürmig	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, member of Lenticulininae inside the family Vaginulinida (Lagenina).
Cornuspira	Cornuspira involvens	Buttenheim	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, type member of Cornuspiridae inside the family Cornuspirida (Lagenina). Round-spiral shell morphology
Dentalina	Dentalina terquiemi Dentalina matutina Dentalina vetusta Dentalina sp.	Buttenheim Unterstürmig	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, member of Nodosariidae inside the family Nodosariacea (Lagenina). Dentalina is an extant genus, with an elongated shell, that resemble a small worm.
Pseudonodosaria	Pseudonodosaria melo Pseudonodosaria quinquecostata	Unterstürmig	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, member of Nodosariidae inside the family Nodosariacea (Lagenina).
Ichthyolaria	Ichthyolaria squamosa Ichthyolaria sp.	Buttenheim	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, type member of Ichthyolariidae inside the family Lagenina. Another genus with a Myriapod-like segmented built.
Lingulina	Lingulina pupa Lingulina tenera	Unterstürmig	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, type member of Lingulininae inside the family Nodosariidae (Lagenina). Dentalina is an extant genus, with an elongated shell, that resemble a small worm.
Reinholdella	Reinholdella sp.	Buttenheim	All the levels	Shells	A benthonic Foraminiferan, member of Ceratobuliminidae inside the family Robertinida . It resembles a small ammonite.

Dinoflagellata

Dinoflagellate cysts

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Nannoceratopsis	Nannoceratopsis gracilis Nannoceratopsis senex Nannoceratopsis ridingii Nannoceratopsis tricornuta Nannoceratopsis deflandrei Nannoceratopsis triceras	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst, member of Dinophyceae of the family Nannoceratopsiaceae. On the Lias Epsylon Interval (Lowermost Toarcian), most of the assemblages are dominated by Nannoceratopsis gracilis. Nannoceratopsis senex becomes highly abundant until the uppermost Tenuicostatum.
Comparodinium	Comparodinium koessenium Comparodinium lineatum Comparodinium punctatum Comparodinium scalatum Comparodinium stipulatum	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Comparodiniaceae.
Valvaeodinium	Valvaeodinium punctatum	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Comparodiniaceae.
Apodinium	Apodinium fioccosum Apodinium glabrum	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Apodiniaceae. An Ectoparasitic dinoflagellate, whose hosts are normally Tunicates
Eyachia	Eyachia priscus	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Scriniocassiaceae.
Argentiella	Argentiella bifuminosa	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Scriniocassiaceae.
Scriniocassis	Scriniocassis weberi	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Scriniocassiaceae.
Balechiodinium	Balechiodinium concicum	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Scriniocassiaceae.
Moesiodinium	Moesiodinium cingulatum	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Heterocapsaceae.
Morgenrothia	Morgenrothia junior Morgenrothia tenera	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Heterocapsaceae.
Susadinium	Susadinium cristatum Susadinium flaccum Susadinium saetosum Susadinium scrofoides	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Heterocapsaceae.
Parvocysta	Parvocysta nasuta	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Heterocapsaceae.
Surculosphaeridium	Surculosphaeridium longifurcatum	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Gonyaulacaceae.
Phallocysta	Phallocysta minuta	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst from the family Peridiniphycidae.
Mancodinium	Mancodinium semitabulatum	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst, type member of Mancodiniaceae. Dominant genera on some layers of the Lias Delta Stage.
Maturodinium	Maturodinium inornatum	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst, member of Mancodiniaceae. Commonly found along the genus Beaumontella.
Luehndea	Luehndea spinosa	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst, type member of Luehndeoideae. Luehndea spinosa is common on the medium layers of the lower Posidonia Shale, while restricted to some areas on the Lias delta.
Beaumontella	Beaumontella caminuspina	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A Dinoflagellate cyst, member of Suessiaceae. Common on Pliensbachian levels, become present but rare on lower Toarcian.

Algae

Includes abundant variety of algae, such as the genus of colonial Green algae Botryococcus, or the unicellular algal bodies Tasmanites, and other small examples. Algae are a good reference for changes on the oxygen conditions along the Toarcian.

Algae Acritarchs

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Veryhachium	Veryhachium brevispinum	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	An Acritarch probably from Algal origin. Veryhachium fossils represent open marine and transgressive conditions. It has high presence on most of the samples studied from the Posidonia Shale, being nearly the 50% of the Acritarch fraction on some locations.
Micrhystridium	Micrhystridium inconspicuum Micrhystridium spinuliferum	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	An Acritarch probably from Algal origin. Its fossils indicate nearshore or estuarine to shallow lagoon and/or slightly brackish-water environments. It is the dominant on the nearshore sections.
Leiofusa	Leiofusa jurassica Leiofusa fusiformis	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	An Acritarch probably from Algal origin. Related to estuarine deposits.
Pterospermopsis	Pterospermopsis pelagica Pterospermopsis goslarensis	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	An Acritarch probably from Algal origin. Related to open shelf deposits
Cymatiosphaeropsis	Cymatiosphaeropsis punctiferus Cymatiosphaeropsis stigmatus	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	An Acritarch probably from Algal origin. Related to open shelf deposits
Pterosphaeridia	Pterosphaeridia undulata Pterosphaeridia eisenackii Pterosphaeridia intersignata Pterosphaeridia nodosa Pterosphaeridia pachytheca	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	An Acritarch probably from Algal origin. Related to open shelf deposits

Haptophyta

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Mitrolithus	Mitrolithus jansae	Lower Saxony Basin	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of the family Parhabdolithaceae inside Stephanolithiales. Shore deposits genus. The abundance drop of M. jansae further characterise the T-OAE perturbation, where becomes the dominant Genus on most of the Saxony Basin.
Parhabdolithus	Parhabdolithus liasicus	Lower Saxony Basin	All the levels	Millions of specimens	Type member of the family Parhabdolithaceae inside Stephanolithiales.
Schizosphaerella	Schizosphaerella punctulata	Lower Saxony Basin	All the levels	Millions of specimens	Type member of the family Schizosphaerellaceae inside Parhabdolithaceae. Towards the Pliensbachian-Toarcian extincion this genus gets a decrease in abundance and size that shows the change and biotic crisis.
Biscutum	Biscutum grandis	Lower Saxony Basin	All the levels	Millions of specimens	Type member of the family Biscutaceae inside Parhabdolithaceae.
Crepidolithus	Crepidolithus granulatus	Lower Saxony Basin	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of the family Chiastozygaceae inside Eiffellithales.

Chlorophyta

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Scriniocassis	Scriniocassis limbatus Scriniocassis limbicavatus Scriniocassis priscus	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of Dinophyceae.
Palaeohystrichophora	Palaeohystrichophora infusorioides	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of Peridiniaceae inside Dinophyceae.
Dissiliodinium	Dissiliodinium giganteum	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of Gonyaulacaceae inside Dinophyceae.
Pleurozonaria	Pleurozonaria globulus Pleurozonaria chondrota Pleurozonaria concinna Pleurozonaria digitata Pleurozonaria distans Pleurozonaria diversipora Pleurozonaria macropora Pleurozonaria media Pleurozonaria polyporosa Pleurozonaria spongiosa Pleurozonaria stellulata Pleurozonaria suevica Pleurozonaria wetzelii	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of Prasinophyceae. It the main genus present on silt and sand horizons, trending to be absent on black argillaceous layers.
Campenia	Campenia minor Campenia gigas	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of Prasinophyceae. A genus common on green clays and other upper strata on the formation.
Tasmanites	Tasmanites mourai Tasmanites tardus	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of Prasinophyceae. A genus common on green clays and other upper strata on the formation.
Cyrnatiosphaera	Cyrnatiosphaera densisepta	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of Prasinophyceae. A genus common on green clays and other upper strata on the formation.
Leiosphaera	Leiosphaera globosa Leiosphaeridia deflandrei Leiosphaeridia pusilla	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of the Prasinophyceae. Basinal deposits genus
Lancettopsis	Lancettopsis lanceolata	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of the Prasinophyceae. Basinal deposits genus
Nostocopsis	Nostocopsis saprolithica	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of the Prasinophyceae. Basinal deposits genus
Granodiscus	Granodiscus granulatus	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of the Prasinophyceae. Basinal deposits genus
Tytthodiscus	Tytthodiscus chondrotus Tytthodiscus schandelahensis Tytthodiscus suevicus Tytthodiscus cf. suevicus	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of the Prasinophyceae. Basinal deposits genus
Cymatiosphaera	Cymatiosphaera areolata Cymatiosphaera punctifera Cymatiosphaera stigmata Cymatiosphaera tecta Cymatiosphaera pachytheca	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of the family Pyramimonadales inside Prasinophyceae. Basinal deposits genus
Halosphaeropsis	Halosphaeropsis liassica	All the epicontinental, basinal & nearshore sections of the formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	A member of the family Halosphaeraceae inside Chlorodendrales. Basinal deposits genus
Botryococcus	Botryococcus braunii Botryococcus luteus	Deltaic Influenced Zones of the Formation	All the levels	Millions of specimens	Type member of the family Botryococcaceae inside Trebouxiales. Freshwater or Deltaic Genus	Modern Botryococcus

Plantae

The Flora is dominated by horsetails, what can be due to a similar ecological niche to modern genus Phragmites, able to resist saline conditions. Storms or floods maybe where the major events that transported this flora to the sea.

The macroflora of the Posidonia slate can be described as extremely poor in species. Apart from the remains of Horsetails, it is without exception the remains of coarse branches and fronds from gymnosperms, in which one has a certain can assume transport resistance. Remains of Ferns are completely missing, except for tall arboreal ferns (Peltaspermales). Mostly of the flora was reported from the area of Braunschweig. The major explanation for the flora could be that the plants in question are mono-or oligotypic stands on the edge of the waters that flow into the Posidonienschiefer sea, probably tear away in the course of flood events, easily fragmented during transport and wave waves, possibly especially in the occasional storm events postulated. In terms of taphonomy, this would result in a comparison with today's reed Phragmites, which can form extensive stocks on the edge of shallower and slowly flowing waters ("Reed belts"). The Wood remnants clearly indicate one higher diversity of Coniferous flora in the delivery area than the remains of leafy branches. This fact is likely to be proportionate, similar to that frequent occurrence of charcoalized or gagged trunks, mostly of them are believed to be "driftwoods" that only take a long time drifting also suggests a frequent settlement with mussels and full-grown Sea Lilies. The deposition settings are at large distance from the nearest coastline (for southern Germany about 100 kilometers), making only plants strong to transportation able to resist enougth to get deposited.

Palynology

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Aratrisporites	Appendicisporites tricuspidatus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Lycopsida. Most Abundant Pollen on the Bohemian realm
Heliosporites	Heliosporites altmarkensis	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Lycopsida.
Leptolepidites	Leptolepidites bossus Leptolepidites macroverrucosus Leptolepidites major	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Lycopsida.
Lycospora	Lycospora salebrosacea	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Lycopsida.
Neochomotriletes	Neochomotriletes triangularis	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Lycopsida.
Uvaesporites	Uvaesporites argenteaeformis	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Lycopsida.
Zebrasporites	Zebrasporites interscriptus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Lycopsida.
Retitriletes	Retitriletes clavatoides Retitriletes globosus Retitriletes gracilis Retitriletes subrotundus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Lycopodiaceae.
Simozonotriletes	Simozonotriletes arcuatus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Lycopodiaceae.
Verrucosisporites	Verrucosisporites obscurilaesuratus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Isoetales.
Foraminisporis	Foraminisporis jurassicus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Bryophyta.
Appendicisporites	Appendicisporites tricuspidatus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Schizaeales.
Densoisporites	Densoisporites velatus Densosporites variabilis	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Schizaeales.
Trilites	Trilites minutus Trilites lygodioides	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Selaginellaceae.
Crassipollenites	Crassipollenites diffusus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Pollen	Affinities with Gymnospermophyta. Non concreted affinities
Ovalipollis	Ovalipollis ovalis	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Pollen	Affinities with Gymnospermophyta. Non concreted affinities
Baculatisporites	Baculatisporites primarius	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Pteridopsida.
Polycingulatisporites	Polycingulatisporites liassicus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Pteridopsida.
Leiotriletes	Leiotriletes mesozoicus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Pteridopsida.
Converrucosisporites	Converrucosisporites luebbenensis	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Pteridopsida.
Contignisporites	Contignisporites dunrobinensis Contignisporites problematicus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Pteridopsida.
Lycopodiacidites	Lycopodiacidites rugulatus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Ophioglossaceae.
Gleicheniidites	Gleicheniidites umbonatus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Gleicheniaceae.
Spheripollenites	Spheripollenites subgranulatus Spheripollenites classopolloides Spheripollenites laceratus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Pollen	Affinities with Bennettitales. Abundant on the Lower Jurassic of NW Europe.
Quadraeculina	Quadraeculina anellaeformis	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Pollen	Affinities with Bennettitales.
Eucommiidites	Eucommiidites granulosus Eucommiidites troedssonii	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Bennettitales.
Ephedripites	Ephedripites tortuosus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Ginkgoopsida.
Callialasporites	Callialasporites dampieri Callialasporites turbatus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Pinopsida.
Inaperturopollenites	Inaperturopollenites orbiculatus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Pollen	Affinities with Pinidae. Abundant on the Lower Jurassic of NW Europe, represents pollen of medium to large arboreal plants, specially coniferales.
Cerebropollenites	Cerebropollenites mesozoicus Cerebropollenites macroverrucosus Cerebropollenites thiergartii	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Pollen	Affinities with Cupressaceae inside Pinaceae.
Classopollis	Classopollis classoides Classopollis dellassis Classopollis reclusus Classopollis striatus Classopollis tetradenverband Classopollis torosus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Pollen	Affinities with Cheirolepidiaceae. Abundant on the Lower Jurassic of North and Southern Europe, represents pollen of medium to large arboreal plants, specially coniferales. The abundance of pollen of Classopollis and other thermophile plants was observed in this region in the lower Toarcian from the end of the antiquum (= tenuicostatum) zone to the middle of commune zone.
Circumpollis	Circumpollis pharisaeus Circumpollis philosophus	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Pollen	Affinities with Cheirolepidiaceae. Pollen of medium to large arboreal plants, specially coniferales.
Disaccites	Disaccites grandis	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Spores	Affinities with Podocarpaceae. Pollen of medium to large arboreal plants, specially coniferales.
Clavatipollenites	Clavatipollenites hughesii	Grimmen Mistelgau Niedersachsen Schandelah	All the levels	Pollen	Shares morphology with Chloranthaceae pollen. Can be an example of primigenial Angiosperms pollen, more probably pollen related to genera such as Sanmiguelia and other primigenial Flower-Plant like flora.

Equisetaceae

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Equisetites	cf. Equisetites bunburyanus	Altdorf Holzmaden Ohmden Niedersachsen Schandelah	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Stems	Affinities with Equisetaceae inside Equisetopsida. Number of mostly very fragmented and not particularly well preserved, but clear horsetail remains described. So far Recognizable, leaf sheaths were developed in most cases, but the state of preservation does not allow a more precise determination.
Neocalamites	Neocalamites merianii	Altdorf Holzmaden Ohmden Kerkhofen Niedersachsen Schandelah Bascharange	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Stems and incomplete axes	Affinities with Equisetaceae inside Equisetopsida. Neocalamites is the most common more distributed of all the Posidonia Shale, being even found on Luxembourg Posidonia Strata. Mostly of the Stems reported come from Aeolian-Dunar related deposits, or from nearshore-basinal deposition. Probably was related to the seashore. Some stems are big, resembling the rates of growth seen on modern Bamboo specimens, suggesting +6–7 m tall Equisetopsids.	Neocalamites merianii specimen
Palaeostachya?	Palaeostachya? sp.	Dotternhausen	Tenuicostatum	Pollen Cones	Affinities with Calamitaceae inside Equisetopsida. It was an approximately 2–3 m high shrub-like plant related to swamp environments. Calamitaceans are common in late Palaeozoic wetland plant communities, so the find of a jurassic specimen is rare. Maybe is a mistaken new genera of Pollen cone, but definitely come from an Equisetalean. This genus is found associated with Annularia, being both part of the Calamites plant. It can be related with the Equisetites stems found on the formation.	Palaeostachya drawing of a specimen

Pteridospermatophyta

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Pachypteris	Pachypteris nordenskioeldii	Braunschweig	Falciferum	One specimen of pteridosperm frond.	Affinities with Umkomasiaceae inside Corystospermaceae. Is based on bipinnate leaves, rachis longitudinally striated, with a long petiole and secondary rachises. It belongs to large tree ferns. Posidonia Shale Specimen is characterized for its large size and probably where attached to trunks similar in built to the Cretaceous genus Tempskya.	The only Pachypteris specimen know from the Posidonia Shale

Cycadeoidophyta

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Otozamites	Otozamites gracilis Otozamites bechei	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Leaflets	Affinities with Cycadeoidaceae inside Bennettitales. It is the most abundant medium-sized plant on the environment. Found specially on seashore depositional settings, but also on deltaic and lagoonar environments. It was a low arbustive-arboreal Bennetite related to arid environments, with a leave similar of that of the modern genus Encephalartos, specially Encephalartos munchii, but also Dioon mejiae. Otozamites has been considered synonym with Otopteris, but since the 1990s everybody used the name Otozamites, and Otopteris was forgotten.	Otozamites gracilis specimen from the Posidonia Shale
Pterophyllum	Pterophyllum acutifolium	Banz Holzmaden Altdorf	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Leaflets	Affinities with Cycadeoidaceae inside Bennettitales. This Bennettitalean is related to Shrub built. Some specimens where assigned to Dioonites acutifolium (Junior synonym). Consits on leaves with pinnate, leaflets perpendicular or oblique to the rhachis, on the top of the leaf axis. It comes from fragments of fairly large fronds. In its external form it closely follows the modern genus Dioon, only the leaflets are of our kind wider and shorter, they are further apart, but the tendency to rhachis is the same.	Pterophyllum fossil
Ptilophyllum	Ptilophyllum gracilis Ptilophyllum sp.	Banz Ohmden Holzmaden	Tenuicostatum Kerkhofen Falciferum Bifrons	Leaflets	Affinities with Williamsoniaceae inside Bennettitales. Arboreal Cycadaceans, some with the presence of flower-like structures. It resembles the leaf of the modern Microcycas calocoma, and probably had a similar arboreal built, being the leave of tall Bennetite trees such as Bucklandia, found on the middle jurassic of England.	Ptilophyllum sp. specimen from the Posidonia Shale
Zamites	Zamites mandelslohi Zamites oblongifolius	Banz Irlbach Holzmaden Altdorf	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Leaflets	A member of Williamsoniaceae inside Bennettitales. It has been interpreted as a cycad in the family Cycadaceae or a Bennettitalean plant. Leaflets somewhat removed, oval-oblong, a little narrower near the base, rounded at the tip, nerves partially diverging from the base towards the edge. It was assigned to Pterophyllum oblongifolium and on the genus Glossozamites. This genus was the leaf of arboreal Bennetites, similar in appearance to the modern Encephalartos woodii.	Zamites mandelslohi specimen

Ginkgoales

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Baiera	Baiera furcata Baiera gracilis	Ohmden Holzmaden Banz	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Leave Compressions	Affinities with Ginkgoaceae inside Ginkgoales. Various leaves are known from Ohmden, coming from marine deposits and where identified as Ginko digitata, identified originally as the only Ginko specimen reported on the Posidonia Shale.	Baiera reconstruction

Pinophyta

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Pagiophyllum	Pagiophyllum kurri Pagiophyllum araucarinum	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fragmentary axis compressions with preserved leaves	Affinities with Araucariaceae or Cheirolepidiaceae inside Pinales. Pagiophyllum araucarinum predominates among the two types of leafy coniferous branches that have become known from the Posidonia. However, there is no indication whether this fact reflects their respective share in the vegetation of the delivery area. Cheirolepidiaceae Pollen is the most abundant and diverse found on the formation, what is correlated with the abundance of this genus. Other factor that puts local Pagiophyllum on Cheirolepidiaceae is the dominance of an arid climate, the preferred for this type of conifers.	Pagiophyllum kurri specimen from Banz
Brachyphyllum	Brachyphyllum sp.	Holzmaden	Tenuicostatum	Fragmentary axis	Affinities with Araucariaceae or Cheirolepidiaceae inside Pinales. Specimens whose spiral foliage of the branch, in which the individual leaves open about 2/3 of their length (without the tip) are fused with the branch they hold in their free part fits tightly, suggests belonging to the genus Brachyphyllum.
Widdringtonites	Widdringtonites liasinus	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fragmentary axis compressions with preserved leaves	A possible ancestral member of the Sequoioideae or Callitroideae inside Cupressaceae. Was originally related to the genus "Quasisequoia" couttsiae, as a sister taxa to Sequoia jeholensis. The later studies suggest affinities with large modern redwoods, but others find relationships with the modern genus Fitzroya cupressoides. Both Genera are related with relatively humid ecosystems, while Widdringtonites is known from an Arid setting.	Widdringtonites liasinus specimen from the Posidonia Shale
Taxodioxylon	cf. Taxodioxylon	Holzmaden. Banz Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Affinities with the Taxodioideae family inside Cupressaceae. Resembles the modern genus Cryptomeria, but others resemble the southern genus Fitzroya, from the family Callitroideae. Large trees probably related to the coastal settings.
Protelicoxylon	Protelicoxylon lepenneeii	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Affinities with the Taxaceae family inside Cupressaceae. Resembles the modern genus Austrotaxus.
Cupressinoxylon	Cupressinoxylon sp.	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Affinities with Sequoioideae inside Cupressaceae. Large wood with a morphology similar to the modern genus Sequoia sempervirens. Probably related to Widdringtonites liasinus, representing the earliest representatives of the Sequoia tribe.
Circoporoxylon	Circoporoxylon grandiporosum	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Affinities with Podocarpaceae. It shares characters with modern Sciadopitys, Microcachrys, Dacrydium and Acmopyle.
Podocarpoxylon	cf. Podocarpoxylon sp.	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil Wood	Affinities with Podocarpaceae, resembling modern genera such as Dacrycarpus, with other specimens resembling Juniperus. Includes wood more related to nearshore arbustive Conifers (columnar or low-spreading Shrubs with long, trailing branches), being the most abundant, but also medium to large arboreal conifers from nearshore forests.	Podocarpoxylon specimen
Phyllocladoxylon	Phyllocladoxylon sp.	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Altforf	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Affinities with Podocarpaceae. Similar to the modern Phyllocladus aspleniifolius.
Protophyllocladoxylon	Protophyllocladoxylon franconicum	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Affinities with Podocarpaceae. Resembles the modern Phyllocladus hypophyllus.
Araucarioxylon	cf. Araucarioxylon	Dotternhausen Ohmden Holzmaden.	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood.	Affinities with Araucariaceae. The largest known rafting wood on the fossil record is assigned to this genus, with a length of 18 m. The rafts were populated with Crinoid colonies, and a wide variety of organisms.	Araucarioxylon reconstruccion
Dadoxylon	Dadoxylon lungriense	Banz Holzmaden	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Affinities with Araucariaceae, resembling the modern Wollemia.	Dadoxylon sp. from Banz
Agathoxylon	Agathoxylon agathiforme Agathoxylon continii	Banz Irlbach Altdorft	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Affinities with Araucariaceae, resembling the modern Agathis.	Bivalves added to an Agathoxylon driftwood
Protocupressinoxylon	Protocupressinoxylon catenatum Protocupressinoxylon liasinum	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Affinities with Cheirolepidiaceae. Includes large sized trunks up to 1.7 m tall and 115 cm wide. Large medium to large sized trees (25 m) that extent along the coastal lines of the Vindelician land. The wood from tose trunks shows insect activity, such as wood Vasps and Beetles, that had been found on the Posidonia Shale.	Protocupressinoxylon catenatum specimen from Irlbach
Simplicioxylon	Simplicioxylon wurtembergicum Simplicioxylon cf.hungaricum	Dotternhausen Altdorf Irlbach	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Affinities with Cheirolepidiaceae
"Protopinaceae"	Protopinaceae sp.	Holzmaden Ohmden Banz Altdorf	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Dubious genera with possible affinities with the triassic wood Woodworthia. Protopinaceae is an invalid group of mostly Paleozoic Woods.	Woodworthia, example of Protopinaceae
Xenoxylon	Xenoxylon cf. barberi Xenoxylon ellipticum Xenoxylon latiporosum Xenoxylon cf. latiporosum	Holzmaden. Dotternhausen Banz Altdorf Irlbach Schandelah	Tenuicostatum Falciferum Bifrons	Fossil wood	Affinities with Coniferales, concretely is closer to the Podocarpaceae, Cupressaceae and in a lesser extend to the Cheirolepidiaceae. Finally can be a member of the extinct family Miroviaceae. It is the more abundant genus of wood present on the Bohemian Realm of the Posidonia Shale.

Invertebrata

Ichnofossils

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Thalassinoides	Thalassinoides sp.	Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Altdorf Banz Hemmikon Maurach	Burrowing and track ichnofossils	Burrow-like ichnofossils, that can be related to Crustaceans, Annelids and Fishes. The presence of this burrows changed along the different depositional layers, interpreted as result of relative magnitudes and durations of a series oxygenation events. Increased Oxygen conditions eventually led to a level that permitted both the survival of larger Chondrites and Thalassinoides producing organisms, as well the depth of the Burrow-like structures. The changes on the layers are detailed enough to know that oxygenation-change events duration was sufficient to allowe the migration and establishment of trace-producing organisms, establishing an "equilibrium" with bottom-water oxygen conditions.	Thalassinoides found on the Posidonia Shale.
Chondrites	Chondrites bollensis	Banz Aichelberg Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach Hemmikon Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Burrowing and track ichnofossils	Burrow-like ichnofossils. Interpreted as the feeding burrow of a sediment-ingesting animal. A more recent study has find 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.	Illustration of Chondrites bollensis
Phymatoderma	Phymatoderma granulata	Banz Altdorf Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach Hemmikon	Burrowing and track ichnofossils.	Burrow-like ichnofossils. It consists commonly on a subhorizontal branching burrow system consisting of radiating tunnels filled with fecal pellets. It has been interpreted as a product made by an Endobenthic deposit-feeding animal, specially a Fodinichnia, burrows produced by benthonic subsurface food-mining activity, as is proved by the tunnels and pelletal infill. The study of the Fecal Pellets has revelated that the maker of this ichnogenus was an epicontinental shelf setting non-selective deposit feeder, ingesting particles on the sediment surface without selection. A mode of feeding common on aquatic Benthos, reported on modern animals such as Spionid Polychaete worms, tropical Holothurians and Spatangoid urchins.
Zoophycos	Zoophycos sp.	Banz Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach Hemmikon	Burrowing and track ichnofossils.	Burrow-like ichnofossils. It has been related to Echiuran annelids, but also from moving and feeding polychaete worms.	Example of Zoophycos fossil
Fucoides	Fucoides bollensis	Banz Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach Hemmikon	Burrowing and track ichnofossils.	Burrow-like ichnofossils. Considered an "Algae incertae sedis" fossil, it was recovered subdivided into 16 different groups, being in 1880 along certain ichnofossil genera, such as Cruziana with a massive nomenclatural complexity. Considered now a feeding burrow of a sediment-ingesting animal, sometimes synonymized with Chondrites.
Planolites	Planolites montanus Planolites beverleyensis	Banz Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach Hemmikon	Burrowing and track ichnofossils.	Burrow-like ichnofossils. It is controversial, since is considered a strictly a junior synonym of Palaeophycus.	Example of Planolites fossil
Palaeophycus	Palaeophycus tubularis	Dotterhausen Irlbach	Burrowing and track ichnofossils.	Burrow-like ichnofossils. Palaeophycus is considered related with Planolites, being a litoral fodichnia, probably from a Priapulidan.	Example of Palaeophycus fossil
Helminthopsis	Helminthopsis isp.	Irlbach	Burrowing and track ichnofossils.	Burrow-like ichnofossils. It is interpreted as a grazing trail or Fodinichnia, produced at shallow depth in sediment by Polychaetes and Priapulids.	Example of Helminthopsis fossil
Gyrochorte	Gyrochorte isp.	Irlbach	Burrowing and track ichnofossils.	Burrow-like ichnofossils. Gyrochorte is interpreted as a result of active digging on the sediment by deposit-feeding worm-like animal, probably an Annelid or similar kinds of creatures, such as Crustaceans, Sea Urchins, nearshore fishes, etc.
Cylindrichnus	Cylindrichnus isp.	Altdorf Irlbach	Burrowing and track ichnofossils.	Burrow-like ichnofossils. Cylindrichnus isp. was found only on seashore-related sections, and probably represents litoral Polychaete Burrows.
Asterosoma	Asterosoma ludwigae	Holzmaden Ohmden	Burrowing and track ichnofossils.	Burrow-like ichnofossils. Vertical or oblique complex trace fossil composed of a bunch of spindle-shaped structures and associated tubes, typical of a restricted environment (?estuarine/lagoonal).
Spongeliomorpha	Spongeliomorpha isp.	Holzmaden Dotterhausen Irlbach	Burrows and associated traces	Burrow-like ichnofossils. Spongeliomorpha is believed to come from the domicile of Crustaceans: Anomuras (Probably Eocarcinoidea) and Decapodans (Probably Glypheidae), created as they dig in a firm, semiconsolidated substrate.
Diplocraterion	Diplocraterion parallelum	Holzmaden Ohmden Altdorf Dotternhausen Irlbach	Burrows and associated traces	Burrow-like ichnofossils. 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. It can be Made by Crustaceans, Annelids or other benthic fauna.	Diplocraterion parallelum diagram

Anthozoa

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Thecocyathus	Thecocyathus mitrae Thecocyathus tintinabulum Thecocyathus mactra	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Irlbach Maurach Hemmikon Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Polyps	A stone cora of the family Caryophylliidae inside Hexacorallia. Related to shallow waters, this genus is the main coral found on the Posidonia Shale, resembling the modern Polycyathus muellerae. Its fossils are related with near-land facies, Coralline Islands and relatively small landmases shuch as the Bohemian Massif.	Thecocyathus mitrae from Banz

Porifera

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Cribrospongia	Cribrospongia (Tremadictyon) rugatum	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Dotternhausen Hemmikon	Specimens	A sea sponge of the family Cribrospongiidae inside Sceptrulophora. Found on Shallow and basinal waters, some specimens get 22 cm wide, with a funnel-like morphology. It is relatively common on nearshore strata, but generally rare.	Cribrospongia specimen
Stauroderma	Stauroderma lochensis Stauroderma sp.	Aichelberg Dotternhausen	Specimens	A sea sponge (Glass sponge) of the family Staurodermatidae inside Hexactinellida. Found only on depth Basinal deposits, with a funnel like morphology attaining a diameter of at least 15 cm, with the exception of a large specimen of 30 cm diameter found on Dotternhausen.	Stauroderma, a 30 cm diameter specimen from Dotternhausen

Annelida

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Serpula?	Serpula sp.	Banz Aichelberg Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach Hemmikon	Multiple Specimens.	A sessile, marine annelid tube worm of the family Serpulidae. Its affinities with the genus Serpula are controversial, since the genus is known mostly since Creataceus strata. Although there are other fossils assigned to the genus on same age deposits of France.	Head of a modern Serpula vermicularis
Filogranula	Filogranula tricristata	Banz Aichelberg Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach Hemmikon	Multiple Specimens.	A sessile, marine annelid tube worm of the family Serpulidae
Tetraserpula	Tetraserpula quadrisulcata	Banz Aichelberg Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach Hemmikon	Multiple Specimens.	A sessile, marine annelid tube worm of the family Serpulidae.
Mucroserpula	Mucroserpula quinquecristata	Banz Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Hemmikon	Multiple Specimens.	A sessile, marine annelid tube worm of the family Serpulidae. It show the characteristic features to live on soft mud ground.
Cementula	Cementula complanata	Banz Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Hemmikon	Multiple Specimens.	A sessile, marine annelid tube worm of the family Serpulidae. It show the characteristic features to live on soft mud ground.
Pentaditrupa	Pentaditrupa quinquesulcata Pentaditrupa cylindracea	Banz Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Hemmikon	Multiple Specimens.	A sessile, marine annelid tube worm of the family Serpulidae. Pentaditrupa managed to lie freely on the mud, as shows that its tube's curvature provides stability to its position.
Propomatoceros	Propomatoceros segmentata	Banz Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Hemmikon	Multiple Specimens.	A sessile, marine annelid tube worm of the family Serpulidae. Denominated "Serpula" segmentata, it lacks the two longitudinal edges characteristic on Mucroserpula.
Glomerula	Glomerula plexus	Banz Altdorf Dotternhausen	Multiple Specimens.	A polychaete worm of the family Sabellidae.	Example of Glomerula specimen
Dictyothylakos	Dictyothylakos pesslerae Dictyothylakos sp.	Irlbach	Leech cocoons	Hirudinea cocoons, identified with palynological residues. The cocoons Dictyothylakos are common on flooded basin sediments, and implies not only the presence of parasitic leeches, but also the presence of large hosts nearby.	Example of Leech Cocoon

Mollusca

Brachiopoda

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Gibbirynchia	Gibbirynchia amalthei	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A pennospiriferinid rhynchonellatan.
Discina	Discina papyracea	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A Discinidae rhynchonellatan. This genus was found had a planktotrophic larval stage, that adapted while growing to the local redox boundary, when this fluctuated near the sediment–water interface and oxygen availability prevailed, allowing benthic colonization. Is found on associations with Grammatodon and Pseudomytiloides.
Lingula	Lingula ovalis	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A Lingulidae rhynchonellatan. Associations of bioturbation infauna are dominated on certain sections by Palaeonucula/Lingula agrupations, developed under longer-term oxygenated conditions within the substrate and bottom waters.
Rhynchonella	Rhynchonella amalthei Rhynchonella contraria Rhynchonella batalleri Rhynchonella rimosa Rhynchonella bouchardi Rhynchonella jurensis	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A Rhynchonellidae rhynchonellatan. Found assciated with Plicatula on long-term well-oxygenated conditions within the substrate and bottom waters.

Bivalvia

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Meleagrinella	Meleagrinella substriata	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	An oxytomid scallop.	Colony of specimens
Oxytoma	Oxytoma inequivalvis	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	An oxytomid scallop.
Chlamys	Chlamys textoria	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A pectinoid scallop.	Single specimen
Eopecten	Eopecten velatus	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A pectinoid scallop.
Propeamussium	Propeamussium nonarium Propeamusium pumilus	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A propeamussiid mud scallop.	Various specimens on the same rock
Plicatula	Plicatula spinosa	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A plicatulid mud scallop.
Bositra	Bositra buchii	All the Formation	20.000 specimens/m2	A "posidoniid" ostreoidan. It is the type fossil of the Posidonia Shale. Originally it was named "Posidonia bronni", thought to be a new genus, and the strata was denominated the Posidonia layers after it. Years later it turned out to be a junior synonym of Bositra, and thus, it was reassigned. However, the name of the layers was retained. The habitat and mode of life of Bositra has been debated for more than a century. There have been different interpretations, such as a pseudoplanktonic organism, a benthic organism related to open marine floor, where it was the main inhabitant of the basinal settings, a free swimming mode of life filtering phytoplankton, and a hybrid mode, where it has a life cycle with holopelagic reproduction controlled by the change on Oxygen levels, and even a chemosymbiotic lifestile, related to the large crinoid rafts, being the main "Safe conduct" to evade anoxic events. All the opinions along the years led to a large study in 1998, where the size/frequency distribution, the density of growth thanks to the lines related to the shell size and the position of the redox boundary by total organic carbon diagrams has revealed that Bositra probably had a benthic mode of life.	Thousands of specimens in one matrix
Steinmannia	Steinmannia bronni Steinmannia radiata	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A "posidoniid" ostreoidan. Another Genera mistaken with "Posidonia bronni".	Various specimens in one matrix
Gervillella	Gervillella lanceolata	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A bakevelliid mud oyster.
Liostrea	Liostrea falcifera	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A gryphaeid mud oyster.	Various specimens
Gryphaea	Gryphaea arcuata	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A gryphaeid mud oyster.	Various specimens
Pseudomytiloides	Pseudomonotis substriata Pseudomytiloides dubius	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	An inoceramid clam. Being the second most common genera of Bivalve on the Formation, it had been object to several studies to find its ecological niche, like Bositra. Several opinions include a pseudoplanktonic-only organism, able to live in open sea, or a benthonic-only organism. On the 1998 evaluation with Bositra, was found that probably has a benthic early life that translated to a faculatively pseudoplanktonic mode of adult life.	Single specimen
Inoceramus	Inoceramus dubius Inoceramus amygdaloides	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	An inoceramid clam.	Thousands of specimens on a single rock
Nicaniella	Nicaniella (Nicaniella) pumila Nicaniella striatosulcata	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	An astartid clam.
Solemya	Solemya bollensis Solemya voltzi	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A Clam, type member of the family Solemyidae inside Solemyida.	Single specimen
Palaeonucula	Palaeonucula ungulella Palaeonucula aff. hammeri	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A nuculidae nut clam.
Cucullaea	Cucculea galathea	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A cucullaeid clam.
Mesomiltha	Mesomiltha pumila Mesomiltha pulchra	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A lucinid clam.
Goniomya	Goniomya rhombifera	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A pholadomyid clam.
Grammatodon	Grammatodon taylori Grammatodon jurianus	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A Grammatodontinae clam. This Genus had a lecithotrophic and planktotrophic larval development.
Unicardium	Unicardium bollense	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A mactromyid clam.
Pleuromya	Pleuromya costata Pleuromya ovata Pleuromya unioides Pleuromya uniformis	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A pleuromyid clam.	Pleuromya uniformis, two specimens
Plagiostoma	Plagiostoma giganteum	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A Limidae clam.	Plagiostoma giganteum, specimen multiview
Gibbirynchia	Gibbirynchia amalthei	All the Formation	Thousands of Specimens.	A pennospiriferinid rhynchonellatan.

Gastropoda

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Coelodiscus	Coelodiscus minutus	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Hemmikon Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Docens of Specimens.	A Coelodiscidae sea Snail. The is the oldest known holoplanktonic gastropod, thanks to a bilateral symmetrical shells as an adaption to active swimming. Also the most common of the sea snails of the Formation, it is also one of the most varied in size terms, with some of the biggest specimens of snail from the Lower Toarcian know. It has been related to large floating driftwood as one of the primary settlers.
Tatediscus	Tatediscus aratus	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Holzmaden Ohmden	Docens of Specimens.	A Coelodiscidae sea Snail. Possible holoplanktonic gastropod.
Procerithium	Procerithium brandi	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen	Docens of Specimens.	A Procerithiidae sea Snail.
Toarctocera	Toarctocera subpunctata	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen	Docens of Specimens.	An Aporrhaidae sea Snail. Among the latest described from the formation, is one of the earliest certain aporrhaidae. Characterised by large spines growing at the head of the cunch.
Cryptaulax	Cryptaulax armatum	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Dotternhausen	Docens of Specimens.	A Cryptaulacidae sea Snail.
Neritaria	Neritaria papilio	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Hemmikon Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Docens of Specimens.	A Neritariidae sea Snail.	Single specimen
Zygopleura	Zygopleura septemcincta	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Holzmaden Ohmden Hemmikon Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Docens of Specimens.	A Zygopleuridae sea Snail.	Specimens
Levipleura	Levipleura blainvillei	Banz Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Hemmikon	Docens of Specimens.	A Zygopleuridae sea Snail.
Trochus	Trochus subduplicatus	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Hemmikon Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Docens of Specimens.	A Trochidae sea Snail.	Specimens
Tylotrochus	Tylotrochus subimbricatus	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Hemmikon	Docens of Specimens.	A Trochidae sea Snail. Characterised by a rhomboid scaly pattern on the teleoconch whorls.
Pleurotomaria	Pleurotomaria debuchii	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Docens of Specimens.	A Pleurotomariidae sea Snail.	Specimen
Ptychomphalus	Ptychomphalus expansus	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Dotternhausen	Docens of Specimens.	An Eotomariidae sea Snail.
Pterotrachea	Pterotrachea liassica Pterotrachea ceratophagus	Holzmaden Ohmden Aldortf Dotternhausen	Various specimens.	A Pterotracheidae sea Slug. Among the oldest pelagic floating Slugs, Pterotrachea liassica had a more extended larval period than modern extant Pterotrachea coronata, because one additional whorl is Present.	Modern Specimen

Cephalopoda

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Cenoceras	Cenoceras intermedium Cenoceras astacoides	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Irlbach Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Nautilidae Nautilidan. Includes the largest specimen of Cenoceras known, with 80 cm width.	Nautilidae shell from Banz, probably Cenoceras
Lytoceras	Lytoceras ceratophagum Lytoceras onychograptum Lytoceras cornucopia Lytoceras sublineatum Lytoceras germaini Lytoceras mucronatum	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Irlbach Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Lytoceratidae Ammonite. Lytoceras can get quite big, with nearly 50 cm in diameter.
Pachylytoceras	Pachylytoceras hircinum Pachylytoceras cf. hircinum Pachylytoceras torulosum Pachylytoceras wrighti Pachylytoceras dilucidum	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg	Multiple Specimens.	A Lytoceratidae Ammonite.
Erycites	Erycites labrosus	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg	Multiple Specimens.	A Hammatoceratidae Ammonite.
Hammatoceras	Hammatoceras insigne Hammatoceras compressum	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Irlbach	Multiple Specimens.	A Hammatoceratidae Ammonite.	Hammatoceras
Grammoceras	Grammoceras thouarsense Grammoceras orhignyi Grammoceras doerntense Grammoceras dispatisum Grammoceras saemanni	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Irlbach Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.	Grammoceras specimen from Banz
Phlyseogrammoceras	Phlyseogrammoceras dispansum Phlyseogrammoceras cf. dispansiforme	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.
Pseudogrammoceras	Pseudogrammoceras bingmanni	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.
Hudlestonia	Hudlestonia serrodens Hudlestonia affinis	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.
Catulloceras	Catulloceras dumortieri	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.
Cotteswoldia	Cotteswoldia distans Cotteswoldia lotharingica Cotteswoldia mactra Cotteswoldia subcompta Cotteswoldia fluitans	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.
Harpoceras	Harpoceras falciferum Harpoceras nitescens	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.	Harpoceras specimen
Tiltoniceras	Tiltoniceras antiquum	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Irlbach Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.	Tiltoniceras specimen
Hildoceras	Hildoceras levisoni Hildoceras serpentinum Hildoceras semipolitum Hildoceras bifrons	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Irlbach Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.	Hildoceras specimen
Mercaticeras	Mercaticeras forte	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.	Mercaticeras specimen
Eleganticeras	Eleganticeras exaratum	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.
Pseudolioceras	Pseudolioceras compactile Pseudolioceras discoides	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen	Multiple Specimens.	A Hildoceratidae Ammonite.
Dactylioceras	Dactylioceras semiannulatum Dactylioceras vermis Dactylioceras athleticum Dactylioceras annulatum	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Irlbach Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Dactylioceratidae Ammonite.	Dactylioceras commune on Holzmaden
Collina	Collina mucronata	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen	Multiple Specimens.	A Dactylioceratidae Ammonite. Is common on the bituminous marls (incorrectly designated as “Wilder Schiefer”) of the Altdorf High.
Catacoeloceras	Catacoeloceras crassum Catacoeloceras raquinianum	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen	Multiple Specimens.	A Dactylioceratidae Ammonite.
Coeloceras	Coeloceras crassum Coeloceras mucronatum	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	Type Coeloceratidae Ammonite.
Phylloceras	Phylloceras heterophyllum Phylloceras supraliasicum	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Phylloceratidae Ammonite. The largest ammonite found in the Posidonienschiefer comes from the Ohmden quarry,and belongs to a Phylloceras heterophyllum with a diameter of 87 cm.	Phylloceras restoration
Haugia	Haugia variabilis Haugia illustris Haugia jugosa	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Irlbach	Multiple Specimens.	A Phymatoceratidae Ammonite.
Denckmannia	Denckmannia malagma	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau	Multiple Specimens.	A Phymatoceratidae Ammonite.
Phymatoceras	Phymatoceras lilli	Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Multiple Specimens.	A Phymatoceratidae Ammonite.
Loligosepia	Loligosepia aalensis	Banz Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen	Multiple Specimens.	A Loligosepiidae Loligosepiidan (Vampyromorpha). The Loligosepiidae is believed to be ancestral to the Recent vampire squid, Vampyroteuthis infernalis.	Loligosepia Holzmaden specimen
Jeletzkyteuthis	Jeletzkyteuthis coriaceus	Holzmaden Ohmden Banz Dotternhausen	Multiple 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.
Geopeltis	Geopeltis simplex Geopeltis emarginata	Holzmaden Ohmden Banz	Multiple Specimens.	A Geopeltidae Loligosepiidan (Vampyromorpha). Related to the modern Vampyroteuthis infernalis. Gladius with weakly arcuated hyperbolar zones.	Geopeltis specimen
Parabelopeltis	Parabelopeltis flexuosa	Holzmaden Ohmden Banz Altdorf	Multiple Specimens.	A Geopeltidae Loligosepiidan (Vampyromorpha). Related to the modern Vampyroteuthis infernalis. It is distinguished from Geoteuthis and Loligosepia by its median rib: this rib forms a narrow ridge between two narrow grooves.
Paraplesioteuthis	Paraplesioteuthis sagittata Paraplesioteuthis hastata	Holzmaden Ohmden Banz Altdorf	Multiple Specimens.	A Plesioteuthididae Prototeuthidinan (Vampyromorpha). was originally described as "Geoteuthis" sagittata.
Chitinobelus	Chitinobelus acifer	Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple Specimens.	A Belemnotheutidae Belemnite. Chitinobelus is an extrange fossil, sice the rostrum was composed of aragonite with organic material, while normal Belemnites had calcite. Has been suggested this rostrum was calcitic.
Chondroteuthis	Chondroteuthis wunnenbergi	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Belemnotheutidae Belemnite.
Simpsonibelus	Simpsonibelus dorsalis Simpsonibelus lentus	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Belemnotheutidae Belemnite.
Acrocoelites	Acrocoelites ilminstrensis Acrocoelites pyramidalis Acrocoelites glaber Acrocoelites cf. riegrafi Acrocoelites levidensis Acrocoelites vulgaris Acrocoelites tripartitus	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Megateuthididae Belemnite. Includes some of the Biggest Know Belemnites, with stimated maximum up to 4.5 m long in life, although, most specimens would have been rather smaller.
Dactyloteuthis	Dactyloteuthis wrighti Dactyloteuthis digitalis Dactyloteuthis semistriata Dactyloteuthis irregularis Dactyloteuthis similis Dactyloteuthis incurvata	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Megateuthididae Belemnite.
Youngibelus	Youngibelus giganteus Youngibelus ohmdenensis Youngibelus simpsoni	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Megateuthididae Belemnite. Includes really large specimens	Youngibelus Reconstruction
Passaloteuthis	Passaloteuthis paxillosa Passaloteuthis bisulcata	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Passaloteuthididae Belemnite.	Passaloteuthis Holzmaden specimen
Salpingoteuthis	Salpingoteuthis trisulcata Salpingoteuthis bauhini Salpingoteuthis longisulcata Salpingoteuthis macra Salpingoteuthis tessoniana Salpingoteuthis dorsetiensis Salpingoteuthis blomenhofensis	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple Specimens.	A Salpingoteuthididae Belemnite.	Salpingoteuthis specimen
Clarkeiteuthis	Clarkeiteuthis conocauda	Banz Aichelberg Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple Specimens.	A Diplobelidae Coleoidean. It has been found adult individuals of Clarkeiteuthis which caught small teleost fish of the species Leptolepis bronni. Further indirect evidence for the hunting behaviour comes from their body orientation in the water during life.	Clarkeiteuthis Holzmaden specimen
Odontobelus	Odontobelus tripartitus	Banz Schandelah Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden	Various Specimens.	A Diplobelidae Coleoidean. Has been confused with Acrocoelites tripartitus, hence the species name.
Belotheutis	Belotheutis subcostata	Schandelah Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden	Various Specimens.	A Diplobelidae Coleoidean. Some specimens belong to Clarkeiteuthis (=Phragmoteuthis) conocauda, but others are clearly different.
Sueviteuthis	Sueviteuthis schlierbachensis Sueviteuthis zellensis	Banz Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple Specimens.	A Sueviteuthididae Coleoidean. Sueviteuthis had at least six arms with rather simple hooks, similar to the present of the genus Phragmoteuthis.
Lioteuthis	Lioteuthis problematica	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Various Specimens.	Type member of the Lioteuthididae Squid family. The taxonomic position of Lioteuthis is uncertain, although the wings reaching the proximal gladius section and the smooth median field suggest affinity to the Prototeuthididae
Teudopsis	Teudopsis bollensis Teudopsis subcostata Teudopsis schubleri	Banz Aichelberg Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen	Various Specimens.	A Teudopseina Squid.	Teudopsis Ohmden specimen
Geotheutis	Geotheutis bollensis	Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden	Various Specimens.	A possible primigenial Cuttlefish. Is one of the most important fossils of Cephalopods on the Posidonia Shale, due to be one of the Earliest examples of Pigments found on any species, also one of the first historically. The pigments are preserved on various specimens with Eumelanin related to its ink sacs and include even phosphatized musculature.

Arthropoda

Cycloidea

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Juracyclus	Juracyclus posidoniae	Tübingen	Partial Specimens.	The First Cycloid Arthropod from the Jurassic, from the family Cycloidae inside Cycloidea. Cycloids are a group of maxillopod arthropods that span between the Paleozoic until the latest Cretaceous, probably related to the crustaceans and probably detritivores.

Ostracoda

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Infracytheropteron	Infracytheropteron groissi Infracytheropteron rarum	Unterstürmig Dotternhausen	Cunchs	A Marine Ostracodan of the family Protostomia. The specimens of this genus are rather fargmentary and of uncertain nature.
Ogmoconcha	Ogmoconcha rotunda Ogmoconcha ambo Ogmoconcha sp.	Unterstürmig	Cunchs	A marine Ostracodan, member of the family Healdiidae inside Podocopida. Rather abundant on the Toarcian profiles on Europe, this genus has a Mussel-like shape, with a very clean and round morphology.
Hermiella	Hermiella cincta Hermiella comes Hermiella klingleri	Württenberg	Cunchs	A Marine Ostracodan of the family Healdiidae inside Podocopida. This genus is the main reported on the marine facies of the Dobbertin Clay Pit.
Ogmoconchella	Ogmoconchella impressa Ogmoconchella propinqua	Unterstürmig	Cunchs	A Marine Ostracodan of the family Healdiidae inside Podocopida. This genus is the main reported on the marine facies of the Dobbertin Clay Pit.
Pseudohealdia	Pseudohealdia gruendeli Pseudohealdia truncata	Württenberg	Cunchs	A Marine Ostracodan of the family Healdiidae inside Podocopida. The genus is rare on the layers.
Kinkelinella	Kinkelinella procera Kinkelinella costata	Württenberg	Cunchs	A Marine Ostracodan of the family Protocytheridae inside Podocopida. A genus related with Fish fossils and anoxic bottoms.
Praeschuleridea	Praeschuleridea gallemannica Praeschuleridea aspera	Württenberg	Cunchs	A Marine Ostracodan of the family Praeschuleridea inside Podocopida.
Eucytherura	Eucytherura angulocostata	Württenberg	Cunchs	A Marine Ostracodan of the family Cytheruridae inside Podocopida. Is rare and the specimens found are rather incomplete.
Polycope	Polycope tenuireticulata Polycope pelta	Württenberg	Cunchs	A Marine Ostracodan of the family Polycopidae inside Cladocopina. Scarce but well preserved specimens.
Cytherella	Cytherella praecadomensis	Württenberg	Cunchs	A Marine Ostracodan of the family Cytherellidae inside Platycopida.
Bairdia	Bairdia ohmerti Bairdia thuringica	Württenberg	Cunchs	A Marine Ostracodan of the family Bairdiidae inside Bairdioidea. Abundant and diverse, is found associated with Ammonite shells.
Bairdiacypris	Bairdiacypris dorisae	Württenberg	Cunchs	A Marine Ostracodan of the family Bairdiidae inside Bairdioidea.

Malacostraca

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Orhomalus	Orhomalus arpi	Neumarkt	Partial Specimens.	A hermit crab of the family Paguroidea. Hermit crabs are common of the marine layers of the lower Jurassic Europe, mostly on the Pliensbachian-Toarcian Boundary of France and Germany. Orthomalus is a small sized crab, probably inhabitant of nearshore waters, and even deltaic and beach environments, similar to modern genera.
Palaeopagurus	Palaeopagurus sp.	Holzmaden	Single Specimen inside an Ammonite Shell.	An hermit crab of the family Paguridae.
Uncina	Uncina posidoniae	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Banz Mistlegau Altdorf	Nearly complete & Partial Specimens.	An Astacidea Decapodan of the family Uncinidae. Reaching large sizes of almost half a meter (39–47 cm), Uncina Posidoniae is among the largest know Jurassic Crustaceans. Uncina posidoniae is also the largest representative of the genus Uncina. This large crustacean has been found associated with Ammonite and Bivalve filled Bentos, where probably hunted different kinds of prey. Its large claws would have been perfect for hunt small invertebrates and vertebrates.	Uncina posidoniae specimen The Largest complete Uncina posidoniae specimen, with 44 cm long.
Tonneleryon	Tonneleryon schweigerti	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Partial Specimens and complete Specimens	A gregarious Polychelidan Lobster.
Proeryon	Proeryon giganteus Proeryon hauffi Proeryon hartmanni Proeryon laticaudatus	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Banz Mistlegau Altdorf	Partial Specimens.	A Coleiidae Decapodan. The largest Coeloid from the formation, P. giganteus is a species reaching a larger size than most other polychelidans, with up to 15 cm. On the Posidonia Shale there is the most abundant variety of species from the genus, ranging from different sizes and morphologies, that indicate different habitat & feeding adaptations on the genus. Some like P. hartmani show less adaptations to hunt for small nectobenthic preys than other relatives, being abundant on Oyster-filled waters. There is a relatively abundance of the genus in deep-water settings from the Toarcian onward.	Proeryon hartmanni specimen from Banz Proeryon sp. specimen from Schandelah
Antrimpos	Antrimpos noricus	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Banz	Partial Specimens.	A Penaeidae Decapodan.	Antrimpos specimen
Palaeastacus	Palaeastacus sp.	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Partial Specimens.	An Erymidae Decapodan.	Palaeastacus specimen
Coleia	Coleia theodorii Coleia moorei Coleia sinuata	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Banz	Complete Specimens. Includes specimens inside ammonites shells	An Erymidae Decapodan.
Eryma	Eryma amalthei Eryma sp.	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Banz	Complete Specimens	Type genus of the Erymidae Decapodan family. Originally, was named Glyphea amalthei,informally used by Quenstedt and housed on the Museum Naturkunde in Württemberg. A series of posterior revisions probe it was a different genus.	Eryma specimen
Stenodactylina	Stenodactylina liasina	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Complete Specimens	An Erymidae Decapodan.
Achelata	Achelata gen. et sp. indet.	Holzmaden	Single complete specimen in late larval stage	The specimen reported represents the oldest fossil record of an achelatan lobster larva, and the first representative of achelatan lobsters in the Posidinia Shale. Shares similarities with the late jurassic genus Cancrinos.	California spiny lobsters are relatives of the Larval specimen from the Posidonia Shale
Stomatopoda	Stomatopoda Indeterminate	Holzmaden	Single Incomplete Specimen	A Stomatopoda Malacostracan. Its affinities haven't been tested.	A female Odontodactylus Scyllarus mantis shrimp, maybe related to the Posidonia Specimen

Thoracica

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Toarcolepas	Toarcolepas mutans	Aichelberg	Numerous disarticulated individuals, associated with fossil wood.	A phospatic-shelled Cirripede of the family Eolepadidae. Toarcolepas is provisionally interpreted as the oldest epiplanktonic cirripede known, and is thought to have lived attached to floating driftwood.	Modern genus Lepas is the most related taxa to Toarcolepas

Arachnida

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Liassoscorpionides	Liassoscorpionides schmidti	Niedersachsen	Single Incomplete Specimen.	The type genus of the family Liassoscorpionididae, probably related to Mesophonoidea. Being the only Jurassic scorpion known, there is no evidence that L. schmidti was aquatic (which was suggested in the past) and in the absence of further, better preserved material it should be excluded from future considerations of broad patterns of scorpion evolution.	File:Liassoscorpionides schmidti (Version 2).jpg Speculative Reconstruction

Insecta

Insects are a common terrestrial animals that where proabaly drifted to the sea due to Moonsonal conditions present on the Posidonia Shale.

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Heterophlebia	Heterophlebia buckmani	Holzmaden Schandelah Braunschweig Hattorf, Fallersleben Bascharage	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Heterophlebiidae. A relative abundant genus, present on most of the pits of the Posidonia Shale, even on Holzmaden.
Plagiophlebia	Plagiophlebia praecostarea	Hattorf, Fallersleben	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Heterophlebiidae.
Heterothemis	Heterothemis brodiei	Holzmaden Schandelah Beienrode Hattorf, Fallersleben Hemmikon Bascharage	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Liassogomphidae. Second most abundant genus of Odonatan in the Formation.
Phthitogomphus	Phthitogomphus angulatus	Niedersachsen Luxguard quarry	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Liassogomphidae.
Proinogomphus	Proinogomphus bodei Proinogomphus kreuzerorum	Hattorf, Fallersleben	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Liassogomphidae.
Ensphingophlebia	Ensphingophlebia undulata	Braunschweig	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Sphenophlebiidae.
Mesoepiophlebia	Mesoepiophlebia veronicae	Bascharage	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Sphenophlebiidae.
Liassostenophlebia	Liassostenophlebia germanica	Rhine-Danube canal, Km 112	Specimens	A Dragonfly
Syrrhoe	Syrrhoe commissa	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Dragonfly.
Strongylogomphus	Strongylogomphus grasselianus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Dragonfly.
Myopophlebia	Myopophlebia libera	Beienrode Bascharage	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Myopophlebiidae.
Paraheterophlebia	Paraheterophlebia wunnenbergi Paraheterophlebia marcusi	Niedersachsen Bascharage	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Myopophlebiidae.
Paraplagiophlebia	Paraplagiophlebia loneuxi	Bascharage	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Myopophlebiidae.
Necrogomphus	Necrogomphus brunswigae	Schandelah	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the Family Liassogomphidae.
Campterophlebia	Campterophlebia elegans	Schandelah	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Campterophlebiidae.The largest Early Jurassic Insect Know, with a wings size up to 20 cm.
Gallodorsettia	Gallodorsettia kronzi	South of Foetz	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Campterophlebiidae.
Henrotayia	Henrotayia marci	Bascharage	Specimens	A Dragonfly of the family Henrotayiidae.
Liadoblattina	Liadoblattina blakei	Holzmaden Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Cockroach of the family Raphidiomimidae.
Ptyctoblattina	Ptyctoblattina simplicior Ptyctoblattina dilatata	Niedersachsen Beienrode	Specimens	A Cockroach of the family Raphidiomimidae.
Caloblattina	Caloblattina mathildae	Niedersachsen Beienrode	Specimens	A Cockroach of the family Caloblattinidae.
Blattula	Blattula langfeldti	Niedersachsen Beienrode	Specimens	A Cockroach of the family Blattulidae.
Schesslitziella	Schesslitziella haupti Schesslitziella integra	Feuermühlenberg near Scheßlitz Kerkhofen	Specimens	A Stick insect. One of the described insects found more near the Bohemian Massif, where probably belong most of the terrestrial invertebrate fauna.
Chresmodella	Chresmodella fissa	Hattorf, Fallersleben	Specimens	A Stick insect of the family Aerophasmidae.
Compactofulgoridium	Compactofulgoridium spoliatum	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Grasshopper.
Protogryllus	Protogryllus formosus Protogryllus hattorfensis Protogryllus praeacutus Protogryllus symmetricus Protogryllus multoramosus Protogryllus multovenosus Protogryllus laceratus Protogryllus foliolum Protogryllus implicatus Protogryllus fissus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Grasshopper of the family Protogryllidae.
Panorpidium	Panorpidium media Panorpidium geinitzi Panorpidium minima	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Grasshopper of the family Elcanidae.
Acridiopsis	Acridiopsis spoliata	Hattorf, Fallersleben	Specimens	A Short-horned Grasshopper of the family Acrididae.
Locustopsis	Locustopsis procera Locustopsis bernstorffi Locustopsis maculosa	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Grasshopper of the family Locustopsidae.
Liadolocusta	Liadolocusta ornata	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Grasshopper of the family Locustopsidae.
Archijassus	Archijassus heeri	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Planthopper of the family Archijassidae.
Elasmoscelidium	Elasmoscelidium rectemarginatum Elasmoscelidium promotum Elasmoscelidium boreale	Niedersachsen Braunschweig	Specimens	A Planthopper.
Fulgoridium	Fulgoridium mancomarginatum Fulgoridium semiperspicuum Fulgoridium cubitoramosum Fulgoridium cuneiforme Fulgoridium infuscatum Fulgoridium paulodilatatum Fulgoridium exiguemaculatum Fulgoridium reduncum Fulgoridium fallerslebense Fulgoridium hattorfense Fulgoridium gottingense Fulgoridium tenuimaculatum Fulgoridium incurvatum Fulgoridium praeobtusum Fulgoridium raromaculatum Fulgoridium cubitofurcatum Fulgoridium basilaesum Fulgoridium hondelanum Fulgoridium fabri Fulgoridium hildesheimense Fulgoridium symmetricum Fulgoridium latius Fulgoridium posidonicum Fulgoridium silvaticum	Niedersachsen Flechtorf near Fallersleben Aselfingen	Specimens	A Planthopper of the family Fulgoridiidae.
Fulgoridulum	Fulgoridulum egens	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Planthopper of the family Fulgoridiidae.
Procerofulgoridium	Procerofulgoridium verticillatum Procerofulgoridium praefastigatum	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Planthopper of the family Fulgoridiidae.
Tetrafulgoria	Tetrafulgoria parallelogramma	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Planthopper of the family Fulgoridiidae.
Metafulgoridium	Metafulgoridium praetruncatum Metafulgoridium spatulaeforme	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Planthopper of the family Fulgoridiidae.
Productofulgoridium	Productofulgoridium filiferum Productofulgoridium praeacutum	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Planthopper of the family Fulgoridiidae.
Margaroptilon	Margaroptilon formosum Margaroptilon cuneatum Margaroptilon paucisinuatum Margaroptilon detruncatum Margaroptilon procerum	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Planthopper of the family Fulgoridiidae.
Compactofulgoridium	Compactofulgoridium fronterotundum Compactofulgoridium obesum Compactofulgoridium aries Compactofulgoridium decapitatum Compactofulgoridium concameratum Compactofulgoridium paenintegrum	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Planthopper of the family Fulgoridiidae.
Procercopis	Procercopis lacerata Procercopis abscissa Procercopis wunnenbergi	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Froghopper of the family Procercopidae.
Megalocoris	Megalocoris laticlavus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Shore bug.
Eurynotis	Eurynotis incisus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Shore bug of the family Archegocimicidae.
Somatocoris	Somatocoris conservatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Shore bug of the family Archegocimicidae.
Corynecoris	Corynecoris occultatus Corynecoris semigranulatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Shore bug of the family Archegocimicidae.
Entomecoris	Entomecoris minor	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Shore bug of the family Archegocimicidae.
Ensphingocoris	Ensphingocoris parvulus Ensphingocoris praerotundatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Shore bug of the family Archegocimicidae.
Engynabis	Engynabis tenuis	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Shore bug of the family Archegocimicidae.
Apicasia	Apicasia inolata	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Pholipheron	Pholipheron articulatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Grasselites	Grasselites pusillus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Omogongylus	Omogongylus ovatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Sideriosemion	Sideriosemion punctolineatum	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Metanastes	Metanastes denudatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Diatrypamene	Diatrypamene angulocollis	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Aptilotitus	Aptilotitus capitecarens	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Rhomaleus	Rhomaleus ornatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Leptosolenophorus	Leptosolenophorus brevicollis	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Gastroratus	Gastroratus dispertitus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Brachylaimon	Brachylaimon striatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Pleuralocista	Pleuralocista insculpta	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Mesoncus	Mesoncus striatulus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Palaeotrachys	Palaeotrachys laticollis	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Hydroicetes	Hydroicetes affictus	Schandelah	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Scalopoides	Scalopoides inscissus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Peridosoma	Peridosoma praecisum	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Syntomopterus	Syntomopterus latus	Beienrode	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Sphaerocantharis	Sphaerocantharis striata Sphaerocantharis defossa	Beienrode	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Rhysopsalis	Rhysopsalis distorta	Beienrode	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Diplocelides	Diplocelides minutus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Tripsalis	Tripsalis praecisa	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Trochiscites	Trochiscites capitapertus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Prosynactus	Prosynactus gracilis Prosynactus scissus Prosynactus procerus	Beienrode Niedersachsen	Specimens	A False Ground Beetle of the family Trachypachidae.
Coreoeicos	Coreoeicos dilatatus	Beienrode	Specimens	A False Ground Beetle of the family Trachypachidae.
Aposphinctus	Aposphinctus conservatus Aposphinctus striatus	Beienrode	Specimens	A Water Scavenger Beetle of the family Hydrophilidae.
Zetemenos	Zetemenos sexlineatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Amphoxyne	Amphoxyne lineata Amphoxyne minuta	Beienrode	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Tolype	Tolype rotundata	Beienrode	Specimens	A basal Beetle.
Amblycephalonius	Amblycephalonius tenuistriatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle of the family Coptoclavidae.
Ooperioristus	Ooperioristus applanatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle of the family Coptoclavidae.
Camaricopterus	Camaricopterus ovalis	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Beetle of the family Schizophoridae.
Megachorites	Megachorites brevicollis	Niedersachsen Volkmarsdorf, Braunschweig	Specimens	A Giant Beetle. It is among the largest found on all the Jurassic.
Protobittacus	Protobittacus desacuminatus	Niedersachsen Hattorf, Fallersleben	Specimens	A Hangingfly of the family Bittacidae.
Parabittacus	Parabittacus lingula	Niedersachsen Hattorf, Fallersleben	Specimens	A Hangingfly of the family Bittacidae.
Haplobittacus	Haplobittacus parvus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Hangingfly of the family Bittacidae.
Mesobittacus	Mesobittacus clavaeformis Mesobittacus marginelaesus	Beienrode Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Hangingfly of the family Bittacidae.
Orthophlebia	Orthophlebia latipennisimilis Orthophlebia fallerslebensis Orthophlebia elongata	Niedersachsen Hattorf, Fallersleben	Specimens	A Scorpionfly of the family Orthophlebiidae.
Parorthophlebia	Parorthophlebia grasselensis	Niedersachsen Hattorf, Fallersleben	Specimens	A Scorpionfly of the family Orthophlebiidae.
Mesopanorpa	Mesopanorpa formosa	Beienrode	Specimens	A Scorpionfly of the family Orthophlebiidae.
Pseudopolycentropus	Pseudopolycentropus obtusus	Niedersachsen Hattorf, Fallersleben	Specimens	A Scorpionfly of the family Pseudopolycentropodidae.
Homoeoptychopteris	Homoeoptychopteris incerta	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Amianta	Amianta eurycephala	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Culiciscolex	Culiciscolex gibberatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Liassonympha	Liassonympha compacta	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Bodephora	Bodephora arucaeformis	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Apistogrypotes	Apistogrypotes inflexa	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Amphipromeca	Amphipromeca acuta	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Cyrtomides	Cyrtomides maculatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Sphallonymphites	Sphallonymphites decurtatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Propexis	Propexis incerta	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Archipleciomima	Archipleciomima germanica	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Protoplecia	Protoplecia hattorfensis	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly of the family Protopleciidae.
Mesorhyphus	Mesorhyphus ulrichi	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Wood Gnat of the family Anisopodidae.
Metaraphidia	Metaraphidia vahldieki	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Snakefly.
Heterorhyphus	Heterorhyphus analivarius Heterorhyphus anomalus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Amblylexis	Amblylexis gibberata	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Ellipibodus	Ellipibodus laesa	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Homoeoptychopteris	Homoeoptychopteris incerta	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly.
Protorhyphus	Protorhyphus ovisimilis	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Fly of the family Protorhyphidae.
Praemacrochile	Praemacrochile decipiens	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A primitive Crane fly of the family Tanyderidae.
Nannotanyderus	Nannotanyderus krzeminskii	Kerkhofen	Specimens	A primitive Crane fly of the family Tanyderidae.
Architipula	Architipula bodeisimilis Architipula formosa Architipula basiminuta Architipula robusta Architipula clara Architipula bodei Architipula brunsvicensis Architipula analiramosa Architipula aequabilis Architipula fragmentosa Architipula veris Architipula latealata	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Crane fly of the family Limoniidae.
Ozotipula	Ozotipula tarda	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Crane fly of the family Limoniidae.
Haplotipula	Haplotipula majalis Haplotipula cubitoramosa	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Crane fly of the family Limoniidae.
Leptotipuloides	Leptotipuloides fastigata	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Crane fly.
Mikrotipula	Mikrotipula dixaeformis	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Crane fly.
Eoptychoptera	Eoptychoptera simplex	Niedersachsen Kerkhofen	Specimens	A Phantom Crane fly of the family Ptychopteridae.
Necrotaulius	Necrotaulius parvulus	Holzmaden Niedersachsen Kerkhofen Hattorf, Fallersleben	Specimens	A Caddisfly.
Prohemerobius	Prohemerobius prodromus Prohemerobius septemvirgatus Prohemerobius mediolatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Lacewing of the family Prohemerobiidae.
Parhemerobius	Parhemerobius dilatatus Parhemerobius bodei	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Lacewing of the family Prohemerobiidae.
Paractinophlebia	Paractinophlebia grasselensis	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Lacewing of the family Prohemerobiidae.
Panfilovia	Panfilovia fasciata	Niedersachsen Kerkhofen	Specimens	A Lacewing of the family Panfiloviidae. A giant Lacewing, with forewing length more than 5 cm.
Liassopsychops	Liassopsychops curvata	Niedersachsen Kerkhofen	Specimens	A Giant Lacewing, type genus of the subfamily Liassopsychopinae inside Kalligrammatidae. It is one of the oldest known representatives of the Giant pollinator lacewings. The genus Liassopsychops was previously referred to Psychopsidae. Another specimen related, Ma 14504 is regarded here as Kalligrammatidae incertae sedis. This along the occurrence of two distantly-related genera of Kalligrammatidae in the lower Toarcian is unexpected.
Ophtalmogramma	Ophtalmogramma klopschari	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Giant Lacewing, genus of the subfamily Kallihemerobiidae inside Kalligrammatidae. Other of the oldest known representatives of the Giant pollinator lacewings. The Toarcian Kalligrammatidae lived in warm and dry conditions
Tetanoptilon	Tetanoptilon brunsvicense	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A lance Lacewing of the family Osmylidae. The largest non-Kalligrammatidae lacewing of the Jurassic, with a forewing length of 470 mm and a wingspan stimated on 11 cm.
Protoaristenymphes	Protoaristenymphes bascharagensis	Bascharage	Specimens	A lance Lacewing of the family Mesochrysopidae.
Liassocicada	Liassocicada mueckei Liassocicada antecedens	Rhine-Danube canal, Km 112 Beienrode	Specimens	A Hairy Cicada of the family Tettigarctidae.
Liassotettigarcta	Liassotettigarcta mueckei	Kerkhofen	Specimens	A Hairy Cicada of the family Tettigarctidae.
Xulsigia	Xulsigia karetsa	Bommelscheier industrial area	Specimens	A Sternorrhynchan of the family Pincombeomorpha. It is curious for its peculiar venation on its wings. Has been proposed its own family, Xulsigiidae.
Indutionomarus	Indutionomarus treveriorum	Bommelscheier industrial area	Specimens	A Coleorrhynchan of the family Progonocimicidae.
Thilopterus	Thilopterus lampei	Schandelah	Specimens	A Wasp of the family Ephialtitidae.
Symphytopterus	Symphytopterus liasinus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Wasp of the family Ephialtitidae.
Liadobracona	Liadobracona raduhna	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A Wasp of the family Ephialtitidae.
Pseudoxyelocerus	Pseudoxyelocerus bascharagensis	Bascharage	Specimens	A Wood Wasp of the family Xyelotomidae.
Agmatozoon	Agmatozoon articulatum	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A non classified Insect.
Campeulites	Campeulites cylindricus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A non classified Insect.
Tomeferusa	Tomeferusa abdita	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A non classified Insect.
Trimerocephalium	Trimerocephalium incisum	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A non classified Insect.
Elasmoscolex	Elasmoscolex hamatus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A non classified Insect.
Epimetrophora	Epimetrophora recta	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A non classified Insect.
Oocephalina	Oocephalina mutilata	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A non classified Insect.
Platycorion	Platycorion utroquelaesum	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A non classified Insect.
Protomyrmeleon	Protomyrmeleon grasselensis Protomyrmeleon brunonis	Niedersachsen Bascharage	Specimens	A Dicondylian, from the family Protomyrmeleontidae.
Dorniella	Dorniella pulchra	Beienrode	Specimens	A basal Insect of the family Blattogryllidae.
Geinitzia	Geinitzia latrunculorum Geinitzia fasciata Geinitzia dorni	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Insect of the family Geinitziidae.
Adelocoris	Adelocoris ambiguus	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Insect of the family Pachymeridiidae.
Stiphroschema	Stiphroschema longealatum	Niedersachsen	Specimens	A basal Insect of the family Pachymeridiidae.

Echinodermata

Asterozoa

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Ophiopholis	Ophiopholis trispinosa	Holzmaden Ohmden Altforf Banz Mistelau Hemmikon	Few Specimens.	An Ophiuridan of the family Ophiactidae. Very rare on the layers.	Modern Specimen
Mesophiomusium	Mesophiomusium geisingense Mesophiomusium scabrum	Holzmaden Ohmden Altforf Banz Mistelau Hemmikon	Few Specimens.	An Ophiuridan of the family Ophiolepididae. Very rare on the layers, being Mesophiomusium geisingense the most common of the two species present.
Ophiarachna	Ophiarachna liasica	Holzmaden Ohmden Altforf Banz Mistelau Hemmikon	Various Specimens.	An Ophiuridan of the family Ophiacanthida. Very Common, related to non anoxic water sedimentation.
Sinosura	Sinosura brodiei	Holzmaden Ohmden	Various Specimens.	An Ophiuridan of the family Aplocomidae. Very Common.	Fossil Specimen
?Ophiura	Ophiura astonensis	Holzmaden Ohmden	Few Specimens.	An Ophiuridan of the family Ophiuridae. Its relationships haven't been confirmed and it is based on very fragmentary remains.	Appearance
?Ophiocten	Ophiocten seeweni	Holzmaden Ohmden	Few Specimens.	An Ophiuridan of the family Ophiuridae. Its relationships haven't been confirmed and it is based on very fragmentary remains.
?Pentasteria	Pentasteria sp.	Banz	Few Specimens.	An Asteroidean of the family Astropectinidae. It is very rare on the layers, and a few fragmentary specimens are known. Only a relatively complete specimen is known from Banz Abbey.	Pentasteria sp. from Banz

Echinoidea

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Cidaris	Cidaris sp.	Holzmaden Ohmden Altforf Banz Irlbach Hemmikon	Few Specimens.	A sea urchin of the family Cidaridae. Common on several layers. Cidaris is genus that still alive today. A bottom dweller, is commonly found associated with Belemnnite fossils, probably due to eating its carcasses.	Modern Specimen
Diademopsis	Diademopsis crinifera Diademopsis sp.	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Irlbach Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Docens of Specimens	A sea urchin of the family Pedinidae. It is the most common sea urchin in the formation, present on all the levels with specimens of various sizes. Vinculated to sea bottom sediments, before Gasteropods and Bivalves, Diademospsis was the tird major colonizer of the bottom, in between anoxic changes.	Specimens from Holzmaden
Procidaris	Procidaris sp.	Holzmaden Banz Irlbach	Few Specimens.	A sea urchin of the family Miocidaridae

Crinoidea

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Praetetracrinus	Praetetracrinus kutscheri	Banz Altdorf Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple specimens.	A Crinoidean of the family Plicatocrinidae.
Shroshaecrinus	?Shroshaecrinus quedlinburgensis	Banz Altdorf Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple specimens.	A Crinoidean of the family Millericrinidae.
Procomaster	Procomaster pentadactylus	Banz Altdorf Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple specimens.	A Crinoidean of the family Isocrinida.
Isocrinus	Isocrinus basaltiformis	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach	Multiple specimens.	Type genus of Crinoidean of the family Isocrinida.	Close view of one specimen Single specimen
Seirocrinus	Seirocrinus subangularis	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach	Multiple specimens. Fossilized rafts of +10 m long with complete colonies.	The Largest Know Crinoidean, from the family Pentacrinitidae. Among the tallest animals of its period, Seirocrinus is also one of the most famous fossils from the Posidonia Shale. It consists of fossils of colonies along large wood trunks, with specimens up to 14 m long, with the largest specimen reaching 26 m long, what makes it among the tallest know Mesozoic organisms, one of the largest invertebrates know on the fossil record and one of the tallest know animals. It was an open ocean organism that lived in rafting woods, probably filtering food and serving as a refuge for other animals, such as ammonites. The crinoids had a large colonization process, based on the status of the fossil wood found. The large rafts where the home for a high variety of marine organisms, such as Balanoideans, Ammonites and other. It has been stimated that without the presence of modern raft wood predators (that apperared on the Bathonian) those rafts can last up to 5 years, being that the main reason the crinoids where able to attach such huge sizes. The large rafts where also proabaly essential to distribute animals along the Early Jurassic Seas.	Close view of one specimen Single specimen
Pentacrinites	Pentacrinites fossilis Pentacrinites briareus Pentacrinites dichotomus Pentacrinites quenstedti	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Aselfingen Maurach Hemmikon Bascharage	Multiple specimens. Fossilized rafts of +10 m long with complete colonies.	Type genus of Crinoidean from the family Pentacrinitidae. Like Seirocrinus, Pentacrinites formed colonies on rafting wood, getting a different role than bigger crinoid and appearing on the first stages of the descomposition of the rafting wood. Was a smaller genus, with specimens of no more than 1 meter long, usually measuring 40–70 cm.	Close view of one specimen Reconstruction

Vertebrata

Fishes

Chondrichthyes

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Microtoxodus	Microtoxodus gulakmani	Schömberg	Teeth	A non classified Elasmobranch.
Synechodus	Synechodus egertoni	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Schömberg Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	Thype shark of the family Synechodontiformes.
Rhomphaiodon	Rhomphaiodon sp.	Schömberg Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A shark of the family Synechodontiformes.
Protospinax	Protospinax sp.	Schömberg Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A member of the family Protospinacidae.
Palidiplospinax	Palidiplospinax smithwoodwardi	Holzmaden	Articulated vertebral column, girdles, both fin spines and clasper organ	A member of the family Palaeospinacidae.
Palaeospinax	Palaeospinax priscus	Holzmaden	Anterior part of body with basicranium, palatoquadrates, Meckel's cartilage, ceratohyals, epihyals, teeth, traces of the branchial arches and the anterior finspine	Type member of the family Palaeospinacidae.
Mesiteia	? Mesiteia sp.	Schömberg Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A Carpet shark of the family Orectolobiformes.
Chiloscyllium	? Chiloscyllium sp.	Schömberg Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A Carpet shark of the family Hemiscylliidae.	Modern Chiloscyllium
Palaeobrachaelurus	Palaeobrachaelurus sp.	Schömberg Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A Carpet shark of the family Orectolobiformes.
Ornatoscyllium	Ornatoscyllium sp.	Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A Carpet shark of the family Orectolobiformes.
Annea	Annea sp.	Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A Carpet shark of the family Orectolobiformes.
Paracestracion	Paracestracion sp.	Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A Bullhead Shark of the family Heterodontidae.
"Heterodontus"	"Heterodontus" duffini	Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth.	A Bullhead Shark of the family Heterodontidae.
Agaleus	? Agaleus sp.	Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A shark of the family Agaleidae.
Asteracanthus	Asteracanthus sp.	Dudelange Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Teeth	A shark of the family Acrodontidae.
Lissodus	Lissodus guenneguesi Lissodus sp.	Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A shark of the family Hybodontiformes.
Crassodus	Crassodus reifi	Dotternhausen	Meckelian Cartilages, Jaws, teeth, Palatoquadrates, placoid scales and desarticualted parts of the labial, hyoid and branchial skeleton.	A shark of the family Hybodontidae. The Type specimen belongs to a large hybodontid, with an estimated total length of up to 3 m. It has a Meckelian Cartilage more robust than Hybodus hauffianus and an acrodontine dentition, as seen on Bdellodus. Probably is related with "Hybodus" delabechei, very likely a junior synonym of Crassodus.
Bdellodus	Bdellodus bollensis	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Teeth.	A shark of the family Hybodontidae.	Bdellodus
Hybodus	Hybodus hauffianus	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Altdorf	Complete Specimens and fragments, including Teeth, scales, jaws and Cartilage.	Type shark of the family Hybodontidae. It is the most abundant shark on the layers of the Posidonia Shale, with some of the best preserved specimens of the genus known. It was probably an open ocean hunter, with small horns over the eyes. With a size around 2 m, it was also one of the largest representatives of the Chondrichthyes on the formation.	Hybodus Holzmaden specimen, among the best preserved of the genus, with Belemmnites inside. Hybodus Another Holzmaden specimen
Pseudonotidanus	Pseudonotidanus politus	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Fragmentary and Complete Specimens	A shark of the family Hexanchiformes.
Bathytheristes	Bathytheristes gracilis	Ohmden	Partially Complete Specimen, with associated teeth	A member of Callorhynchidae inside Chimaeriformes. Similar to Callorhinchus, among the oldest known of its type.	Callorhinchus milii can be the closest relative of Bathytheristes
Acanthorhina	Acanthorhina jaekeli	Holzmaden	Head and postcranial remains	A member of Myriacanthidae inside Chimaeriformes. An aberrant Chimaera with an extrange elongated nose and horns over the skull.	Acanthorhina
Metopacanthus	Metopacanthus bollensis	Holzmaden Ohmden	Head and several postcranial remains	A member of Myriacanthidae inside Chimaeriformes. An aberrant Chimaera with a second jaw-like structure on its head.
Toarcibatis	Toarcibatis elongata Toarcibatis sp.	Dudelange-Zoufftgen Longlaville	Teeth	A Basal member of the Rajiformes of the family Archaeobatidae.
Cristabatis	Cristabatis crescentiformis Cristabatis sp.	Dudelange-Zoufftgen Longlaville	Teeth	A Basal member of the Rajiformes of the family Archaeobatidae.
Doliobatis	Doliobatis weisi	Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A Basal member of the Rajiformes of the family Archaeobatidae.
Jurobatos	Jurobatos cappettai Jurobatos sp.	Dudelange-Zoufftgen	Teeth	A Basal member of the Rajiformes.

Actinopteri

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Holzmadenfuro	Holzmadenfuro rebmanni	Holzmaden	Complete Specimen	First ganoin-scaled Ophiopsiformes (Halecomorphi) from the Posidonienschiefer. The type specimen measures 51 cm, and has elongated and serrated body scales before the dorsal fin and tiny ganoid scales after it.
Ohmdenfuro	Ohmdenfuro bodmani	Ohmden	Nearly complete specimen with broken skull	First ganoin-scaled Ophiopsiformes (Halecomorphi) from the Posidonienschiefer. Elongated morphology, with a length of ~39 cm, covered by smooth, masive ganoin scales.
Caturus	Caturus smithwoodwardi	Holzmaden Würtenmberg	Various Complete and nearly complete Specimens	Type Genus of the family Caturidae inside Amiiformes	Caturus
Saurorhynchus	Saurorhynchus hauffi Saurorhynchus brevirostris	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach	Multiple specimens.	The youngest representative of the family Saurichthyidae, known for its large jaws, similar to modern Belonidae.	Saurorhynchus
Ptycholepis	Ptycholepis bollensis Ptycholepis barrati	Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple specimens.	Type member of the family Ptycholepididae inside Ptycholepiformes. It is one of the Youngest representatives of its Family.	Ptycholepis Ptycholepis
Pholidophorus	Pholidophorus germanicus Pholidophorus hartmanni	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach	Multiple specimens.	A member of the family Pholidophoridae. Is among the most abundant fishes on the late liassic of Europe, present on the sub-mediterranean boreal, with specimens of several sizes.	Pholidophorus Pholidophorus
Luxembourgichthys	Luxembourgichthys friedeni	Bommelscheier industrial area, Bascharage	Multiple specimens.	A member of the family Pholidophoridae.
Leptolepis	Leptolepis jaegeri Leptolepis coryphaenoides Leptolepis bronni Leptolepis normandica	Banz Altdorf Oedhof Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach	Multiple specimens.	A member of the family Leptolepididae. The most common member of its family, Leptolepis is commonly associated with Crustaceans and small marine invertebrates, probably main creatures on its diet. One on the most predated vertebrates on the formation, with abundance of larger fishes and reptiles with specimens associated.	Leptolepis Leptolepis
Paraleptolepis	Paraleptolepis wiedenrothi	SW of Braunschweig	MB. f.7612, nearly complete specimen.	A member of the family Leptolepididae. It differs from Leptolepis coryphaenoides in the presence of a few autapomorphics and also in the retention of several primitive features not present on the last one. Small genus, of about 14 cm length.
Euthynotus	Euthynotus incognitus	Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple specimens.	A member of the family Pachycormidae.	Euthynotus
Saurostomus	Saurostomus esocinus	Banz Altdorf Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple specimens.	A member of the family Pachycormidae. Large representative of the family, reaching sizes up to 2.3 m.	Saurostomus Saurostomus
Pachycormus	Pachycormus macropterus Pachycormus bollensis	Banz Altdorf Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple specimens.	Type member of the family Pachycormidae. Large representative of its family, with a size up to 1.5 m. One specimen preserved the alimentary canal, with the stomach filled by numerous hooklets that can be referred to the coleoid cephalopod Phragmoteuthis, impliying a diet of cephalopods from this genus.	Pachycormus
Sauropsis	Sauropsis latus Sauropsis veruinalis	Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple specimens.	A large member of the family Pachycormidae.	Sauropsis Sauropsis
Ohmdenia	Ohmdenia multidentata	Ohmden	Partial specimen.	A large member of the family Pachycormidae, with up to 2.5–3 m long and an estimated weight over 200 kg. Considered originally a junior synonym of Pachycormus, although the craneal bones suggest a new genus. Among the largest fish found on the formation it is a key fossil on the transition to large filter feeding fishes. Being Coeval with another basal Pachycormiformes show the specialization of the group during the late lower jurassic. Ohmdenia is the sister taxa to group of suspension-feeding Giant Middle-Late Jurassic Fishes (Including the famous Leedsichthys), showing alterations on its dental structure, with jaw indicates a diet based on soft body prey. Its evolutionary significance is equiparable to that of the genus Aetiocetus for the modern Baleen whale.	Ohmdenia
Dapedium	Dapedium pholidotum Dapedium punctatus Dapedium caelatus Dapedium stollorum	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach	Multiple specimens.	A deep-bodied neopterygian, Type member of the family Dapediidae. Unpublished material indicates the presence of one or even two more still undescribed species of Dapedium in the Lower Toarcian.	Dapedium Dapedium
Lepidotes	Lepidotes elvensis Lepidotes gigas	Banz Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Niedersachsen Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden	Multiple specimens.	A common member of the Lepisosteiformes.	Lepidotes Lepidotes
Tetragonolepis	Tetragonolepis drosera Tetragonolepis semicincta	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Aichelberg Schandelah Dotternhausen Holzmaden Ohmden Maurach	Multiple specimens.	A common member of the Semionotidae.	Tetragonolepis
Strongylosteus	Strongylosteus hindenburgi	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Various Specimens	A large member of the Chondrosteidae and the largest non reptilian marine vertebrate of the Posidonia shale, with a size between 3 and 4.5 m, and an estimated weight over 800 kg to 1 tonne. Has been suggested as a junior Synonym of Chrondrosteus, although there haven't been any new revision about the status of the genus. It is related to modern sturgeons, but with a different kind of mouth than common species, made for hunting prey in open waters, with a strong lower jaw, similar to modern Beluga Sturgeons.	Strongylosteus

Sarcopterygii

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Trachymetopon	Trachymetopon liasicum	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Various Specimens with diverse degree of preservation.	A large coelacanth of the family Mawsoniidae, related with the genera Axelrodichthys, Chinlea, Diplurus and the type Mawsonia. The largest specimen know from the Posidonia Shale is GPIT.OS.770 (Holotype), with a length over 1.6 m. The specimen presents an ossified lung inside the abdominal cavity, and most of the body, being also one of the most complete Coelacanths of the Jurassic found. Some recent discoveries from the Middle Jurassic show specimens of up to 3.5 m long. Trachymetopon precedes the presence of the family Mawsoniidae in Europe by about 120 Ma and the northernmost occurrence of a member of the group, impliying an extensive geographical range during the Early Jurassic. Due to the specimens being found on pelagic deposits suggest that probably was an open ocean swimmer.	Trachymetopon GPIT.OS.770

Reptiles

Ichthyosauria

Inderminate specimens are known.

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Temnodontosaurus	Temnodontosaurus trigonodon Temnodontosaurus burgundiae Temnodontosaurus "sp. A" Temnodontosaurus "sp. B"	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Schlierbach Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Multiple specimens with different degree of preservation.	Type genus of the family Temnodontosauridae. A large Macroraptorial Ichthyosaur, apex predator of its environment. It range on sizes between the 9 and the 12 m, being one of the largest know ichthyosaurs, characterized by skulls and jaws over 1 m in length, with the largest being over 1.9 m long. It has been found with fragments of young icthyosaur on his stomach. Of 39 specimens of Temnodontosaurus studied, a 21% (8 Specimens) show pathologies along their body, with several injuries post traumatic, probably done by other marine reptiles.	Temnodontosaurus hunting Temnodontosaurus trigonodon specimen.
Stenopterygius	Stenopterygius megalorhinus Stenopterygius eos Stenopterygius intercedens Stenopterygius incessus Stenopterygius hauffianus Stenopterygius cuneiceps Stenopterygius promegacephalus Stenopterygius sp	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Schlierbach Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Multiple specimens. Some of them are among the best preserved Ichthyosaur remains known.	Type genus of the family Stenopterygiidae. A common Toarcian Ichthyosaur, present on multiple layers. The rather exquisite level of preservation has led to know even the coloration, that exposes a clear countershading, with an upper part being more obscure than the lower, similar to modern Killer Whales, the Heaviside's dolphin or the Dall's porpoise. There is also evidence of changes in color with ontogenic chnges, going from dark juveniles to countershaded adults. The skin was flexible & Scaless, as in Dolphins.	Restoration Fossil mother with embryo
Suevoleviathan	Suevoleviathan disinteger Suevoleviathan integer	Holzmaden Ohmden Banz Dotternhausen	Multiple specimens.	Type genus of the family Suevoleviathanidae. Includes specimens up to 4 m long.	Suevoleviathan integer fossil
Hauffiopteryx	Hauffiopteryx typicus Hauffiopteryx altera	Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Complete Specimen.	Small sized Ichthyosaur, probably a member of Parvipelvia, sister group to Stenopterygius + Ophthalmosauridae. A small- to mid-sized ichthyosaur, 2–3 m in length, with relatively short and slender antorbital rostrum.	Hauffiopteryx typicus fossil
Eurhinosaurus	Eurhinosaurus longirostris	Banz Altdorf Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Complete and partial Specimens.	A large ichthyosaur of the family Leptonectidae with convergent evolution with modern Swordfish. Like this fishes, Eurhinosaurus is believed to be a fast swimming predator, able to hunt fish schools on same way. Large specimens of up to 6 m are known.	Complete specimen from the Posidonia Shale Eurhinosaurus restoration

Plesiosauria

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Meyerasaurus	Meyerasaurus victor	Dotternhausen Holzmaden	Nearly complete specimen.	A Rhomaleosauridae Plesiosaur. Its detailed fossils have helped to study plesiosaur movement.	Meyerasaurus
Hauffiosaurus	Hauffiosaurus zanoni	Dotternhausen Holzmaden	Complete specimen.	A Rhomaleosauridae Plesiosaur. A moderately sized (3.4 m) Rhomaleaosaurid, ecologically adapted to fish hunt, as has been observed due to comparing the long snouted skull with that of Peloneustes, Gharial Crocodiles or Dolphins.	Hauffiosaurus
Plesiopterys	Plesiopterys wildi	Holzmaden	Complete Specimen.	A basal Plesiosaur that has been linked with Cryptoclididae. It is one of the smallest from the Posidonia, with a complete skeleton measuring less than 2.5 m. It is considered a possible junior synonym of Seeleyosaurus	Plesiopterys
Seeleyosaurus	Seeleyosaurus guilelmiimperatoris	Holzmaden	Complete Specimens.	A Plesiosaur of the family Microcleididae. It was named originally "Plesiosaurus guilelmiimperatoris". It was a moderate‐sized plesiosauroid, measuring up to 3,5 m in length with a skull length of 170 mm.	Seeleysaurus
Microcleidus	Microcleidus brachypterygius	Holzmaden	Several Complete Specimens.	Type member of the Plesiosaur family Microcleididae. Small Plesiosaur, with a length of less than 3 m. Possible Junior synonym of Hydrorion	Microcleidus
Hydrorion	Hydrorion brachypterygius	Holzmaden	Complete Specimen.	A Plesiosaur of the family Plesiosauridae. It is characterised by a really enlongated neck, was probably an ichthyophagous form that occurred rarely in the Posidonienschiefer fauna.	Hydrorion

Sphenodontia

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Palaeopleurosaurus	Palaeopleurosaurus posidoniae	Banz Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen Kerkhofen	Complete specimens.	An aquatic sphenodont of the family Pleurosauridae. Palaeopleurosaurus evidences that there was a slightly skeletal specialization for an aquatic lifestyle, achieved trougth the Jurassic gradually on pleurosaurs. It has similarities with other marine reptiles, such with members of Sauropterygia the presence of a defined suture between the centrum and the neural arch, along with reducted sternum. Probably had a semiaquatic style of life, altrought not as adapted as Pleurosaurus, as show limited morphological evidence of adaptation to a complete aquatic lifestyle, defined by no Osteosclerosis and the lack of Pachyostosis, except for a thicker shaft region in the humerus, that is as narrow as in terrestrial rhynchocephalians, such as the terrestrial Clevosaurus. Palaeopleurosaurus probably was still able to walk on land, for example for Oviposition. Recent studies suggest a shorter lifespan than modern Tuatara, based on irregular spacing of growth marks.	Palaeopleurosaurus Palaeopleurosaurus

Testudinata

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Testudinata	Testudinata indeterminate A Testudinata indeterminate B Testudinata indeterminate C	Altdorf, Bavaria	Various partial specimens, mostly pleurals.	Unclassified Testudine. Münster (1834) cited: " there were also rare things at the quarries of Altdorf, among other remains there where ones of a turtle on lias limestone"". The remains are not cataloged.
Mesochelydia?	Mesochelydia? indeterminate A Mesochelydia? indeterminate B	Banz, Bavaria	Various partial specimens, mostly pleurals. Includes a left partial shell.	Assigned to Mesochelydia(?) due to resemblances for the authors to modern turtles. Unclassified and non cataloged.
Perichelydia?	Perichelydia? indeterminate A	Schandelah	Fragmentary Remains	Can be a more basal taxon or even not a turtle. If it is, can be the first Turtle remains found on the Posidonia Shale since the late 1800s. Now on a private collection.

Crocodrylomorpha

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Steneosaurus	Steneosaurus bollensis	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Schlierbach Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Complete specimens.	A marine crocodrylomorph with a diet probably based on fish. It is the best known member of the family Teleosauriade. The Genus was declared Invalid in 2020.
Macrospondylus	Macrospondylus bollensis	Banz Altdorf Mistelgau Schlierbach Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Series of Complete specimens, including skin impressions	A Thalattosuchian of the family Teleosauridae. Was considered synonymous with Steneosaurus until in 2020 this last was recovered as invalid. Includes 5 m specimens.	Macrospondylus bollensis fossil with Skin Impressions
Mystriosaurus	Mystriosaurus laurillardi	Banz Altdorf Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Complete specimen.	A Thalattosuchian of the family Teleosauridae. A marine crocodrylomorph with a diet probably based on fish. Was considered synonymous with Steneosaurus until recently.	Mystriosaurus
Platysuchus	Platysuchus multiscrobiculatus	Banz Altdorf Schandelah Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Complete specimen.	A Thalattosuchian of the family Teleosauridae. Platysuchus was slightly more robust than its contemporaneous relatives, being probably adapted to hunt more voluminous fish.	Platysuchus
Pelagosaurus	Pelagosaurus typus	Banz Altdorf Ohmden Holzmaden Dotternhausen	Complete specimen.	A Thalattosuchian with a complex assignation, where can be a member of the family Teleosauridae or the basalmost Metriorhynchoidean. With a less heavy built, bigger skull and more visible marine adaptation, its diet probably based completely on fish (one fossil specimen was found with a Leptolepis in its stomach contents). Has been considered a basal Metriorhynchidae or sister taxon to both Teleosauridae and Metriorhynchidae.	Pelagosaurus
Pholidosauridae?	Pholidosauridae Indeterminate	Holzheim bei Göppingen	Partial specimen.	A possible Pholidosauridae Neosuchian. A marine crocodrylomorph, that can be a mistaken Teleosaurian as has been included on Cf. Platysuchus, although has characters that align it with Anglosuchus, that was also confused with a Teleosaurid.
Goniopholididae?	Goniopholididae Indeterminate	Altdorf	Frontal Snout	A Possible Goniopholid Neosuchian. Classified as "?Steneosaurus" sp., it was noted initially a morphology more similar to Goniopholis simus and specially Amphicotylus lucasii, being a possible early member of the group.
Protosuchidae?	Protosuchidae Indeterminate	Schandelah	Fragmentary remains	Possible member of the Protosuchia inside Crocodyliformes. If is confirmed as a member of the family it would be a terrestrial, maybe semi-acuatic crocodrylomorph. Can be a mistaken juvenile Teleosaurian.

Pterosauria

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Campylognathoides	Campylognathoides zitteli Campylognathoides liasicus	Banz Altdorf Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Several specimens with different degrees of preservation.	A Novialoidean Pterosaur, type genus of the family Campylognathoidea. Mark Witton suggests the construction of Campylognathoides' extremely robust forelimbs, with proportionally long wing fingers, could be a specialization for a fast aerial lifestyle comparable to those of Falcons and mastiff bats, being more probably an insect & vertebrate hunter and living on nearshore environments.	Campylognathoides Nearly complete Campylognathoides
"Schandelopterus"	Novialoidea ("Schandelopterus") Indeterminate	Schandelah	Pelvis and several vertebrae.	A Novialoidean Pterosaur, probably a member of the family Campylognathoidea. Has been assigned to the genus Campylognathoides, although it is clearly different than any other pterosaur from the Posidonia Shale. The name "Schandelopterus" is invalid and lacks any study, assigned without species to refer to the specimen on private German Fossil Groups. The pelvis indicates a laterally, slightly upwardly directed orientation of the acetabula which does not support a bird-like bipedal locomotion of this pterosaur as has been suggested on the past.
Parapsicephalus	cf. Parapsicephalus purdoni	Altdorf	Skull	A Rhamphorhynchinae Pterosaur. Has been assigned to the genus Dorygnathus. It has a really complete skull that can help to explain the estatus of the genus Parapsicephalus.
Dorygnathus	Dorygnathus banthensis Dorygnathus mistelgauensis?	Banz Altdorf Schandelah Niedersachsen Holzmaden Ohmden Dotternhausen	Multiple specimens with different degree of preservation.	A Rhamphorhynchinae Pterosaur. It is one of the best known Early Jurassic Pterosaurs. Unlike Campylognthoides, Dorygnathus was an oceanic hunter, with teeth disposed to catch marine prey, such as Belemnittes and several species of fishes. Dorygnathus mistelgauensis is considered a junior synonym until more data can be recovered from the specimen, held on a private collection.	Dorygnathus on terrestrial pose Nearly complete Dorygnathus
"Ohmdenodraco"	Rhamphorhynchinae ("Ohmdenodraco") indeterminate	Ohmden	Femur and a broken tibia-fibula.	A possible Rhamphorhynchinae Pterosaur. Like "Schandelopterus", "Ohmdenodraco" is an invalid name, used on private fossil groups to refer to SMNS 80439, assigned as "?Dorygnathus sp." originally, altrougth characters on the tibia and femur are distinct to any Pterosaur found on the Posidonia.

Dinosauria

Possible teeth from Dinosaurs are known from the Lias Clay pit of Unterstürmig (Referred as "Various Archosaur teeth").

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Neotheropoda	Neotheropoda? Indeterminate	Schandelah	Cervical Vertebrae Referred Teeth	An indeterminate possible Theropod dinosaur, possibly Neotheropoda. Hasn't been revised since 1984. The Cervical Vertebrae can be alternatively from a Plesiosaur, although the teeth show a clear theropod morphology.
Sauropodiformes	Sauropodiformes Indeterminate	Oedhof	3 cm long, tooth-studded fragment of a lower jaw	An indeterminate possible Sauropodomorph dinosaur, possibly a member of Sauropodiformes (Resemble Yunnanosaurus teeth). The Fossil was reported from the Lias Epsilon level, that on Oedhof is occupied by the Posidonia Shale. It was found with abundant Plant debris and Belemnite remains. Hasn't been revised since 1956
Ohmdenosaurus	Ohmdenosaurus liasicus	Ohmden	Tibia and astragalus	A Gravisaurian Sauropod. One of the few formally described from the Toarcian. Has been related with Vulcanodon, although more recent studies placed it as a relative of Rhoetosaurus. It has been claimed to be a small sauropod with a size of 4 m, altrought the tibia measures 405 to 410 mm, leading to a 6.7 m long sauropod. Molina Pérez & Larramendi, stimated a modern size of 6.2 to 6.7 m long, with a weight of 1.3 tonnes.	Ohmdenosaurus

Synapsida

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Cynodontia?	Cynodontia? Indeterminate	Banz	3 Teeth	The specimens were listed on several notes on the 1800s (As "mammal teeth"), although its existence has not been proved. Can be related to the Trithelodontidae or other late surviving Cynodonts by related characters, such as Irajatherium, but also to the Mammaliformes. If its presence is proved, it would be the first Synapsid found on the Posidonia Shale.

External links

• Images of fossils in the Urwelt-Museum Hauff (Holzmaden)