Painten Formation Explained

Painten Formation
Type:	Formation
Age:	early Tithonian ~
Period:	Tithonian
Prilithology:	Limestone
Otherlithology:	Mudstone
Namedfor:	Painten, near Kelheim
Coordinates:	48.9°N 11.6°W
Paleocoordinates:	40.2°N 19.6°W
Subunits:	Öchselberg member
Underlies:	Mörnsheim Formation
Overlies:	Torleite Formation

The Painten Formation is a geologic formation in Germany. It preserves fossils dating back to the Tithonian stage of the Late Jurassic period.^[1]

Description

It is roughly contemporary with the Altmühltal Formation (which includes the true Solnhofen limestone), as they both underlay the Mörnsheim Formation.^[2] The 12th specimen, or "Schamhaupten specimen", of Archaeopteryx was uncovered in the lower portion of the Painten Formation.^[2] Other dinosaurs found here include Juravenator, Ostromia and possibly Compsognathus.

Fossil content

The following fossils have been reported from the formation:

Reptiles

• Schoenesmahl dyspepsia^[3]
• Dakosaurus maximus
• Eurysternum wagleri
• Juravenator starki
• Leptosaurus pulchellus^[4]
• Solnhofia parsonsi
• Archaeopteryx sp.^[5]
• Compsognathus longipes
• Propterodactylus^{[6] [7]}
• Rhamphorhynchus sp.
• Eurysternidae indet.
• Ichthyosauria indet.

Fish

Chondrichthyes

• Paracestracion viohli^[8]

Osteichthyes

• Anaethalion zapporum^[8]
• Ascalabothrissops voelkli^[8]
• Scheenstia zappi^[8]
• Undina penicillata^[8]
• Voelklichthys comitatus^[8]
• Allothrissops sp.^[8]
• Gyrodus sp.^[8]
• Leptolepis sp.^[8]
• ?Elopsomolos sp.^[8]

Invertebrates

Echinoids

• Pygaster sp.
• Echinoidea indet.

Crinoids

• Saccocoma tenella
• Millericrinus sp.

Corals

• Muensteria vermicularis
• Scleractinia indet.

Flora

• Crescentiella morronensis
• Cycadopteris jurensis
• Araucarites sp.
• Brachyphyllum sp.
• Goniolina sp.
• Sphenopteris sp.
• Phaeophyceae indet.

See also

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Germany

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

1. http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=displayStrata&geological_group=&formation=Painten&group_formation_member=Painten Painten Formation
2. Rauhut et al., 2019
3. Reisdorf, A.G.; Wuttke, M. (2012). "Re-evaluating Moodie's Opisthotonic-Posture Hypothesis in fossil vertebrates. Part I: Reptiles – The taphonomy of the bipedal dinosaurs Compsognathus longipes and Juravenator starki from the Solnhofen Archipelago (Jurassic, Germany)". Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments. 92 (1): 119–168. doi:10.1007/s12549-011-0068-y. S2CID 129785393
4. Fabre, 1981
5. Rauhut et al., 2018
6. Spindler . Frederik . 2024-07-23 . A pterosaurian connecting link from the Late Jurassic of Germany . . English . 27 . 2 . 1–27 . 10.26879/1366 . 1094-8074. free .
7. Tischlinger & Frey, 2013
8. Arratia, 2000