| At the northwestern rim of the Tethys in what is today the Alps and Mediterranean, large carbonate platforms accumulated an enormous amount of sediment along the continental margin. Deeper areas of the continental platform accummulated less sediment and therefore contain more iron which results in a deep redish colour of these cephalopod-rich limestones (Rotkalke). The Rotkalke also contain orthocone nautiloids that became finally extinct in the Middle Triassic. The "Hauptdolomit" is typical for lagoonal basins; the sediments underwent a dolomitization already during early diagenesis. Remains of algal laminites are an evidence for anoxic sea water and high salinity. Finds of fish mass mortality plates at Wiestal near Hallein (Austria) also prove for the theory of temporarily bad living conditions. Famous locations are Hallstatt (Austria) and Epidaurus (Greece). |
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Ceratite
Paraceratites sp.
Upper Anisian, Bergamo (IT)
One species of Paraceratites, P. (Progonoceratites) atavus atavus (PHILIPPI), which immigrated into the Germanic Basin at the beginning of the Upper Muschelkalk is the ancestor of the endemic genus Ceratites.
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Ammonite (Phylloceratid)
Monophyllites wengensis
Karnian, Epidaurus (GR)
Monophyllites is regarded as ancestor of the "real" ammonites (order Ammonitida) and has strong similarities to the oldest "real" ammonite Psiloceras from the Lower Jurassic.
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Ammonite
Arcestes sp.
Karnian, Epidaurus (GR)
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Ammonite
Balatonites ?contractus
Karnian, Epidaurus (GR)
Balatonites is known by some finds also from the Muschelkalk.
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Ammonite
Joannites ?diffusus
Karnian, Epidaurus (GR)
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Ammonite
Pinacoceras layeri
Karnian, Epidaurus (GR)
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Colobodus sp.
Plate with remains of 9 individuals
Norian (Hauptdolomit), Hallein (A)
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Starfish feeding trace
Asteriacites quinquefolius QUENSTEDT (negative)
Lower Triassic, San Martino di Castrozza, Dolomite Mts. (IT)
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| Scale length, if not otherwise stated: 1 cm. |
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