Paleobiota of the Solnhofen Limestone
| Solnhofen Limestone | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Kimmeridgian-Tithonian | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Underlies | Usseltal Formation |
| Overlies | Treuchtlingen Formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Lithographic limestone |
| Other | Slate, Dolomite, Flint |
| Location | |
| Region | Bavaria |
| Country | Germany |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Solnhofen |
Facies map of the Solnhofen Archipelago of southern Germany | |
The Solnhofen Limestone or Solnhofen Plattenkalk is a collective term for multiple Late Jurassic lithographic limestones in southeastern Germany, which is famous for its well-preserved fossil flora and fauna dating to the late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian-Tithonian). The paleoenvironment is also often referred to as the Solnhofen Archipelago. The Solnhofen Archipelago was located at the northern edge of the Tethys Ocean as part of a shallow epicontinental sea and is firmly a part of the Mediterranean realm.