Süntel Formation

The Süntel Formation, previously known as the Kimmeridge Formation (German: "Mittlerer Kimmeridge"; Middle Kimmeridge),^[1] is a geological formation in Germany. It is Late Jurassic in age, spanning the early to late Kimmeridgian stage. It predominantly consists of limestone deposited in shallow marine carbonate ramp conditions.^[2]

Süntel Formation
Stratigraphic range: Kimmeridgian ~155–151 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Süntel Formation at Langenberg quarry
Type	Geological formation
Sub-units	Sand-Tonkomplex & Unterbank Members
Underlies	Gigas-Schichten & Holzen Formation
Overlies	Korallenoolith Formation
Thickness	Variable, over 60 m (200 ft) at Langenberg Quarry
Lithology
Primary	Limestone
Other	Sandstone, claystone, marl
Location
Coordinates	52.3°N 8.8°E / 52.3; 8.8
Approximate paleocoordinates	43.4°N 16.9°E / 43.4; 16.9
Region	Nordrhein-Westfalen, Niedersachsen
Country	Germany
Extent	Lower Saxony Basin
Type section
Named for	Süntel
Location	Lower Saxon Hills
Region	Niedersachsen
Süntel Formation (Germany)

Description

Map of the Lower Saxon Hills with Süntel center-right

The formation is part of the Lower Saxony Basin that borders the Süntel massif of the Lower Saxon Hills, part of the larger Harz Mountains. The formation is described as alternations of glauconitic marl, limestone and sandstone.^[3]

Paleontological significance

The formation is known for its fossils, with the Langenberg Quarry having provided fossils of numerous vertebrates.

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs of the Süntel Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Abundance	Notes	Images
Europasaurus	E. holgeri	Langenberg Quarry	Bed 83	Disarticulated remains representing numerous individuals	Sauropod dinosaur
Allosauroidea[4]	Indeterminate			DfMMh/FV1/19, small pedal ungual, cf. DfMMh/FV/343, small pedal phalanx
cf. Ceratosauria[4]				DfMMh/FV/776, anterior chevron
cf. Megalosauroidea[4]				DfMMh/FV/287, left fibula
cf. Tetanurae[4]				DfMMh/FV/105, distal caudal vertebra
Theropoda[4]				DfMMh/FV2/19, a small pedal phalanx III-1, DfMMh/FV3/19, proximal part of a small right fibula
Theropoda		Hannover: Lindener Berg, Tönniesberg, and Ahlem, Thüste, Marienhagen, Holzen, Kahlberg and Langenberg Quarry		18 distinct morphotypes of teeth, referred to "Tyrannosauroidea, as well as Allosauroidea, Megalosauroidea cf. Marshosaurus, Megalosauridae cf. Torvosaurus and probably Ceratosauria"[5]

Turtles

Turtles of the Süntel Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Abundance	Notes	Images
Plesiochelys[4]	Indeterminate	Langenberg Quarry
cf. Thalassemys	Indeterminate			DFMMh/FV 296, "skull part (articulated quadrate, squamosal, basisphenoid, and pterygoid), a disarticulated 40 cm long partial carapace, plastron, and one cervical vertebra."[6]
Eucryptodira	Indeterminate		Bed 73	Juvenile carapace with disarticulated skull and right forelimb[7]

Squamates

Squamates of the Süntel Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Abundance	Notes	Images
Paramacellodidae	Indeterminate	Langenberg Quarry		Partial skeleton[8]

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs of the Süntel Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Abundance	Notes	Images
?Dsungaripteridae	Indeterminate	Langenberg Quarry		DFMMh/FV 500, an articulated partial skeleton consisting of "10 thoracic vertebrae, complete pelvis and sacrum, left and right femur" with an associated possible partial right tibia.[9]

Crocodyliformes

Crocodyliformes of the Süntel Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Abundance	Notes	Images
Knoetschkesuchus[10]	K. langenbergensis	Langenberg Quarry	Bed 83	two partial skeletons and various isolated bones	Atoposaurid
Machimosaurus[11]	M. hugii
Steneosaurus	S. brevirostris[12]			Rostrum, jaw and postcranial remains
Goniopholis[11]	G. simus

Mammaliaforms

Mammaliaforms of the Süntel Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Abundance	Notes	Images
Cimbriodon [13]	C. multituberculatus	Langenberg Quarry	Bed 83	upper and lower p3, p4 and p5 molars	Paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Teutonodon[14]	T. langenbergensis			NLMH 105650, upper right M1	Pinheirodontid multituberculate[13]
Storchodon[15]	S. cingulatus			MH 105654, a right upper molar	A large morganucodont
Hercynodon[16]	H. germanicus			NLMH 105668, left upper molar, NLMH 105669-70 right upper molars, NLMH 105671 left lower molar	Dryolestid
Docodon[17]	D. hercynicus			two lower molars	Docodontid
	D. sp			distal fragment of lower molar	Docodontid
Paulchoffatiidae[13]	Indeterminate			NLMH 105655, left p4, NLMH 105651; m1	NLMH 105651 considered an Eobataarid by Martin et al. 2016, considered a Paulchoffatiid by Martin et al. 2019
Dryolestida[15]	Indeterminate

Ichnofossils

Ichnofossils of the Süntel Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Abundance	Notes	Images
Megalosauripus[18]	M. teutonicus	Bruns quarry tracksite	Sand-Tonkomplex Member
Elephantopoides[18]	E. sp.
		Strömer quarry tracksite
Grallator (Eubrontes)[18]	Grallator (Eubrontes) sp.
Iguanodontipus[18]	?Iguanodontipus sp.

See also

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Germany