Taphonomy of f sh concentrations from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Plattenkalk of Southern Germany

Pan Y, Fürsich F, Chellouche P, Hu L (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie-Abhandlungen Schweizerbart und Borntraeger

Book Volume: 292

Pages Range: 73-92

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1127/njgpa/2019/0809

Abstract

The density of vertebrate fossils on bedding planes is generally very low in the Upper Jurassic plattenkalks forming the Solnhofen fossil Lagerstatte. There are, however, a few bedding planes where large concentrations of the small fis Leptolepides sprattiformis (BLAINVILLE, 1818) occur. The aim of this paper is to analyse and interpret these f sh concentrations from a taphonomic point of view. For this purpose, the taphonomic features of L. sprattiformis concentrations on three large slabs were semi-quantitatively analysed. The concentrations of individuals on bedding planes are explained as recording local mass mortality events caused by tropical storms that, for short intervals, disrupted the pycnocline which separated hypersaline, oxygen-poor to anoxic bottom waters from normal marine surface waters in the Plattenkalk basins. Mass mortality is supported by tetany features such as gaping jaws, hyperextended branchiostegal rays, and splayed f ns, which occur in the majority of the specimens. The generally excellent preservation of the f sh resulted from lack of postmortem f oatation, rapid burial and/or overgrowth by microbial f lms, and quick re-establishment of the pycnocline with inhospitable conditions on the basin floo. The post-mortem concave-arching of the backbones and various displacements of the vertebral column were most likely caused by varying decay resistance of soft tissues and the pressure of decay gases in the body cavities, respectively. The taphonomic analysis of f sh concentrations can provide very detailed palaeoenvironmental information and serves as an independent line of evidence for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions that complements geochemical and sedimentary data.

Authors with CRIS profile

Franz Fürsich

Involved external institutions

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) / 中国科学院 CN China (CN) Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Pan, Y., Fürsich, F., Chellouche, P., & Hu, L. (2019). Taphonomy of f sh concentrations from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Plattenkalk of Southern Germany. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie-Abhandlungen, 292(1), 73-92. https://dx.doi.org/10.1127/njgpa/2019/0809

MLA:

Pan, Yanhong, et al. "Taphonomy of f sh concentrations from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Plattenkalk of Southern Germany." Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie-Abhandlungen 292.1 (2019): 73-92.

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