The Stadthagen Formation is a geological formation located in Hanover, Germany, dating to the Early Cretaceous (Valanginian).[1] The formation contains fossils of reptiles and fish, suggesting that the formation was once a shallow marine setting.[2]

Stadthagen Formation
Stratigraphic range: Valanginian,
~132 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofLower Saxony Basin
Sub-units
  • Platylenticeras involutum ammonite zone
  • Platylenticeras heteropleurum ammonite zone
  • Platylenticeras robustum ammonite zone
OverliesBückeberg Formation and Isterberg Formation
Location
Coordinates52°23′50″N 9°16′06″E / 52.3972°N 9.2683°E / 52.3972; 9.2683
RegionHanover, Germany
Country Germany
ExtentEngelbostel and Sachsenhagen clay pits

History

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The Stadthagen Formation outcrops in the Engelbostel and Sachsenhagen clay pits, which operated as brickworks from 1904 to 1986. After the brickworks closed in 1986, most of the quarry area was backfilled and used as a waste dump before being abandoned.[2]

Paleobiota of the Stadthagen Formation

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Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Image
Actinopterygii[3] Indeterminate Sachsenhagen
Crocodylomorpha[4] Indeterminate Sachsenhagen Known from remains currently located within private collections.
Enalioetes[1] E. schroederi Engelbostel Much of the skull as well as parts of the neck. Previously known as Enaliosuchus "schroederi" and Cricosaurus "schroederi".  
Enaliosuchus[5] E. macrospondylus An atlas-axis complex, three post-axial cervical vertebrae, several dorsal vertebrae, a caudal vertebra, an incomplete femur and a fragmentary sacral rib. Its remains have also been recovered from the Campylotoxus Zone of France.  
Gyrodus[6] G. sp. Engelbostel Nearly complete specimen.
Plesiosauria[4] Indeterminate[4] Sachsenhagen
Targaryendraco[2] T. wiedenrothi Engelbostel and Sachsenhagen Platylenticeras robustum and P. heteropleurum ammonite zones Partial skeleton with lower jaws. Previously known as Ornithocheirus wiedenrothi.  

References

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  1. ^ a b Sachs, S.; Young, M.T.; Hornung, J.J.; Cowgill, T.; Schwab, J.A.; Brusatte, S.L. (2024). "A new genus of metriorhynchid crocodylomorph from the Lower Cretaceous of Germany". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 22 (1). doi:10.1080/14772019.2024.2359946.
  2. ^ a b c Pêgas, R.V., Holgado, B., Leal, M.E.C., (2019). "Targaryendraco wiedenrothi gen. nov. (Pterodactyloidea, Pteranodontoidea, Lanceodontia) and recognition of a new cosmopolitan lineage of Cretaceous toothed pterodactyloids", Historical Biology, 1–15. doi:10.1080/08912963.2019.1690482
  3. ^ Frerichs, U. (2017a). Fische. Arbeitskreis Paläontologie Hannover 45: 59–62.
  4. ^ a b c Frerichs, U. (2017b). Reptilien. Arbeitskreis Paläontologie Hannover 45: 63–68.
  5. ^ Koken E. (1883). Die reptilian der norddeutschen unteren Kreide. Zeitschrift deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft 35: 735-827.
  6. ^ Hornung, Jahn & Hannover, Landesmuseum & Brandt-Allee, Willy. (2021). Pycnodont fishes (Actinopterygii: Pycnodontiformes) from the Lower Cretaceous of northern Germany - diversity and palecological relationships. 58. 4-77.