Erfurt Formation
Geological formation
PeriodLadinian
AgeLadinian
~
PrilithologyMarl
OtherlithologyClaystone, dolomite, limestone, sandstone
NamedforErfurt
NamedbyHoffmann
Year ts1830
RegionBaden-Württemberg, Thuringia
CountryGermany
Coordinates50.949036°N 11.070136°E
Paleocoordinates15.1°N 16.6°E
UnitofLower Keuper
SubunitsBairdienkalk, Grenzdolomit, Lettenkeuper, Sandige Pflanzenschiefer, Untere Graue Mergel & Werksandstein Members
UnderliesGrabfeld Formation
OverliesUpper Muschelkalk
Thickness20–700 m (66–2,297 ft)[1]
ExtentMittelgebirge, North German Plain

The Erfurt Formation, also known as the Lower Keuper (German: Untere Keuper, Lettenkeuper, Lettenkohle or Lettenkohlenkeuper), is a stratigraphic formation of the Keuper group and the Germanic Trias supergroup. It was deposited during the Ladinian stage of the Triassic period.[2] It lies above the Upper Muschelkalk and below the Middle Keuper.[1]

Definition

The formation was defined in Erfurt-Melchendorf in 1830 by Franz Xaver Hofmann and named for the nearby town of Erfurt.[1]

The Erfurt Formation is underlain by the Upper Muschelkalk. The lower boundary to the Erfurt Formation is the "Lettenkohlensandstein" in northern Germany and the "Grenz-bone-beds" in southern Germany.

The formation is a sequence of dolomite, lacustrine limestones, claystone, evaporites, and fluviatile sandstones. The color is usually grey but can also be brown or reddish brown. The average thickness is 60 to 80 meter, with a maximum thickness of 700 meter in the Glückstadt-Graben.[1]

The upper boundary is marked by dolomites, or claystones of the Grabfeld Formation.[1]

Fossil content

The Erfurt Formation is known for its vertebrate fossils. Different kinds of fish, amphibians and archosauriforms have been found. Usually they are found as bone beds, but in 1977 the first complete skeletons were found near Kupferzell. They include Mastodonsaurus, Gerrothorax, Plagiosuchus, Callistomordax, Nanogomphodon, Batrachotomus, Kupferzellia and Palaeoxyris friessi.[3]

Reptiles

Reptiles reported from the Erfurt Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
BatrachotomusB. kupferzellensisSchwäbisch Hall.[4]Albertischichten Member (Serrolepisbank).[4]An archosaur.
WirtembergiaW. hauboldaeVellberg.[5]Untere Graue Mergel.[5]2 partial dentaries (SMNS 91060 & SMNS 91061),[5] and a partial skeleton (SMNS 91313).[6]One of the oldest and the most primitive known rhynchocephalian.
DoswelliidaeGen. et. sp. indet.Schwäbisch Hall.[4]Albertischichten Member (Serrolepisbank).[4]An osteoderm (MHI 2078).[4]An archosauriform.
FraxinisauraF. rozynekaeVellberg, Baden-Württemberg.[7]Untere Graue Mergel Layer.[7]A basal lepidosauromorph.
JaxtasuchusJ. salomoniBaden-Württemberg.[8]Estherienschichten to Anoplophora Dolomite.[8]Multiple skeletal remains.[8]A doswelliid.
NothosaurusN. cristatusEschenau Quarry, Baden-Württemberg.[9]Lettenkeuper.[9]Almost complete skull lacking mandible (GPIT/RE/09800).[9]A nothosaur
N. mirabilisHoheneck & Molsdorf.[10]Upper Lettenkeuper.[10]Multiple specimens.[10]A nothosaur.
N. sp.Schwäbisch Hall.[4]Albertischichten Member (Serrolepisbank).[4]2 dorsal vertebrae & a thoracic rib.[4]A nothosaur.
Owenettidae, aff. BarasaurusKupferzell locality & Schumann quarry.[11]Left humerus (SMNS 92101) & right humerus (SMNS 92100).[11]An owenettid.
PappochelysP. rosinaeSchumann Quarry, Eschenau, Vellberg.[12]Top of Untere Graue Mergel.[12]20 specimens.[12]A stem-turtle.
PolymorphodonP. adorfiSchumann Quarry, Vellberg.[13]Untere Graue Mergel.[13]Disarticulated partial skeletons.[13]An archosauriform.
ProcolophonidaeGen. indet. sp. indet.Schumann Quarry.[11]Left humerus (SMNS 91753).[11]A procolophonid.
PsephosaurusP. suevicusQuarry "Hohenloher Steinwerk" & Hoheneck near Ludwigsburg.[14]Isolated plates (MHI 1426/1-3 & SMNS 91007).[14]A placodont.
P. sp.Hoheneck near Ludwigsburg.[14]Isolated plates (SMNS 91008 & 91009).[14]A placodont.
RutiotomodonR. tytthosSchumann limestone quarry.[15]Top of the Untere Graue Mergel.[15]A nearly complete right maxilla with teeth (SMNS 97028) & a crushed dentary fragment (SMNS 97029).[15]A trilophosaurid.
SimosaurusS. gaillardotiHoheneck near Ludwigsburg.[16]Lettenkeuper.[16]Skull.[16]A nothosaur.
S. guilelmiHoheneck near Ludwigsburg.[16]Lettenkeuper.[16]Skull.[16]Junior synonym of S. gaillardoti.
SmilodonS. laevisGaildorf Alumn Mine.[17]Jaw fragment with teeth.[17]Preoccupied generic name, renamed Zanclodon laevis.
?SuchiaIndeterminateSchwäbisch Hall.[4]Albertischichten Member (Serrolepisbank).[4]A tooth (MHI 2035).[4]An archosaur.
TanystropheusT. conspicuusVertebrae.[18]Nomen dubium.
T. sp.Steinbach near Crailsheim.[18]Lower Lettenkeuper.[18]Teeth & vertebrae.[18]A tanystropheid.
VellbergiaV. bartholomaeiSchumann Quarry, Vellberg.[19]Untere Graue Mergel.[19]Partial skull (SMNS 91590).[19]A stem-lepidosauromorph.
ZanclodonZ. laevisGaildorf Alumn Mine.[17]Jaw fragment with teeth.[17]An indeterminate archosaur.

Synapsids

Synapsids reported from the Erfurt Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Aff. DinodontosaurusNeidenfels, Baden-Württemberg.[20]Isolated complete left humerus (SMNS 56891).[20]Specimen now thought to represent a temnospondyl.[20]
NanogomphodonN. wildiMichelbach an der Bilz.[21]Sandige Pflanzenschiefer Member, lower Lettenkeuper.[21]Teeth.[21]A cynodont.

Amphibians

Amphibians reported from the Erfurt Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
BystrowiellaB. schumanniKupferzell & Vellberg, Hohenlohe.[22]Untere Graue Mergel.[22]Osteoderms & vertebrae.[22]A chroniosuchian.
CallistomordaxC. kugleriVellberg (Schumann quarry), Ummenhofen quarry & Kupferzell locality.[23]Albertibank through Untere Graue Mergel.[23]Numerous specimens.[23]A metoposauroid.
GerrothoraxG. pulcherrimusSchwäbisch Hall.[4]Albertischichten Member (Serrolepisbank).[4]Two skull fragments and some osteoderms.[4]A plagiosaurid.
MastodonsaurusM. giganteusMany localities in Baden-Württemberg, Bayern & in Thuringia.[4][24]From the Grenzbonebed through the Hohenecker Kalk, covering nearly the whole Lettenkeuper sequence.[4][24]Numerous specimens.[4][24]A capitosaur.
MegalophthalmaM. ockertiSchumann limestone quarry, Vellberg, Baden-Württemberg, southern Germany.[25]Hauptsandstein (main sandstone unit).[25]A partial skull with anterior portion of the left mandibular ramus (MHI 2047).[25]A plagiosaurid.
PlagiosuchusP. pustuliferusMultiple localities in Baden-Württemberg & Thuringia.[26]Vitriolschiefer, Sandige Pflanzenschiefer & Untere Graue Mergel.[26]Multiple specimens.[26]A plagiosaurid.
?TemnospondyliGen. et. sp. indet.Neidenfels & Schumann Quarry.[20]Untere Graue Mergel.[20]Isolated complete left humerus (SMNS 56891) & isolated almost complete right humerus (SMNS 90571).[20]Originally thought to represent a dicynodont similar to Dinodontosaurus.[20]
TrematolestesT. hagdorniPresent in a range of localities in southern Germany.[27]Estherienschichten through Untere Graue Mergel, upper Lettenkeuper.[27]Numerous specimens including a nearly-complete skeleton.[27]A trematosaurid.

Bony fish

Bony fish reported from the Erfurt Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
"Ceratodus""C." concinnusSchwäbisch Hall.[4]Albertischichten Member (Serrolepisbank).[4]Tooth plates, pterygoids & scales.[4]A lungfish.
?CoelacanthidaeGen. et. sp. indet.Schwäbisch Hall.[4]Albertischichten Member (Serrolepisbank).[4]Numerous remains.[4]A coelacanth.
ParundichnaP. schoelliRot am See, Baden-Württemberg.[28]Hauptsandstein.[28]Clusters of sigmoidal scratches (MHI 1704).[28]Swimming trace of a large coelacanth.
PtychoceratodusP. serratusSchwäbisch Hall.[4]Albertischichten Member (Serrolepisbank).[4]A mould of a juvenile left praearticular tooth (MHI 410) & a fragment of a juvenile tooth plate (MHI 1748/42).[4]A lungfish.
?RedfieldiiformesFam., gen. et. sp. indet.Schwäbisch Hall.[4]Albertischichten Member (Serrolepisbank).[4]2 fragmentary and dissociated skeletons.[4]A redfieldiiform.
SaurichthysS. gypsophilusFranconia.[29]Skull fragment.[29]A saurichthyiform.
S. sp.Schwäbisch Hall.[4][29]Albertischichten Member (Serreolepisbank).[4]1 fragmentary rostrum (MHI 1748/27).[4][29]A saurichthyiform.
SerrolepisS. suevicusSchwäbisch Hall.[4]Albertischichten Member (Serrolepisbank).[4]Numerous specimens.[4]A perleidiform.

Cartilaginous fish

Cartilaginous fish reported from the Erfurt Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
LonchidionL. sp.Schwäbisch Hall.[4]Albertischichten Member (Serrolepisbank).[4]Teeth.[4]A hybodontiform.
PalaeoxyrisP. friessiMuschelkalk quarry, Baden-Württemberg.[3]Top of Hauptsandstein.[3]SMNS 95447 (egg capsule).[3]Likely an egg capsule of Polyacrodus.

References

  1. ^ "Erfurt Formation". BGR. Archived 10 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  2. ^ Erfurt Formation at Fossilworks.org
  3. ^ Ronald Böttcher (2010). "Description of the shark egg capsule Palaeoxyris friessi n. sp. from the Ladinian (Middle Triassic) of SW Germany and discussion of all known egg capsules from the Triassic of the Germanic Basin". Palaeodiversity. 3: 123–139. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  4. ^ Hagdorn, Hans & Mutter, Raoul (January 2011). "The vertebrate fauna of the Lower Keuper Albertibank (Erfurt Formation, Middle Triassic) in the vicinity of Schwäbisch Hall (Baden-Württemberg, Germany)". Palaeodiversity. 4: 223–243.
  5. ^ Jones, Marc EH; Anderson, Cajsa Lisa; Hipsley, Christy A; Müller, Johannes; Evans, Susan E; Schoch, Rainer R (2013-09-25). "Integration of molecules and new fossils supports a Triassic origin for Lepidosauria (lizards, snakes, and tuatara)". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 13 (1): 208. Bibcode:2013BMCEE..13..208J. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-13-208. ISSN 1471-2148. PMC 4016551. PMID 24063680
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  18. ^ Spiekman, Stephan N. F. & Scheyer, Torsten M. (2019-12-16). "A taxonomic revision of the genus Tanystropheus (Archosauromorpha, Tanystropheidae)". Palaeontologia Electronica. 22 (3): 1–46. doi:10.26879/1038. ISSN 1094-8074. S2CID 211105850
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  29. ^ Romano, C.; Kogan, I.; Jenks, J.; Jerjen, I.; Brinkmann, W. (2012-09-28). "Saurichthys and other fossil fishes from the late Smithian (Early Triassic) of Bear Lake County (Idaho, USA), with a discussion of saurichthyid palaeogeography and evolution". Bulletin of Geosciences. doi:10.3140/bull.geosci.1337. ISSN 1802-8225