Fossile Invertebrates (Jurassic and Cretaceous) at the Naturkundemuseum Stuttgart

Size and focus of the collection: Approximately 400.000 from the Lower Jurassic (especially southwestern Germany); approximately 500.000 specimens from the Middle Jurassic (especially southwestern Germany); approximately 400.000 specimens from the Upper Jurassic (Swabian Alb); approximately 10.000 specimens from the Cretaceous (Europe, Middle East); approximately 8.000 types and published specimens.

Significance of the collection: Bed-by-bed collected Jurassic faunas from southwestern Germany (especially ammonites) are outstanding, the examination of which results in more precise correlation and stratigraphy of the Jurassic, and it enlightens the evolution of the ammonites. The corals and their associated fauna from the late Upper Jurassic, which permits the reconstruction of Jurassic reef communities, are also important. The numerous new finds from the Late Jurassic Lithographic Limestone of Nusplingen are unique. Meanwhile, this site ranges among the most important ones of southern Germany. A large collection of invertebrates from the Posidonia Shale (Upper Liassic) supports the importance of the Holzmaden area as fossiliferous site. The collection of published specimens includes 1030 documents of various publications (1845-1888) of F. A. Quenstedt.

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Jurassic fossil collection

The collection has many fossils from the Jurassic period.

It includes:

• about 400,000 specimens from the Early Jurassic, mainly from south-western Germany,
• about 500,000 specimens from the Middle Jurassic, mainly from south-western Germany,
• about 400,000 specimens from the Late Jurassic, mainly from the Swabian Alb region,
• about 10,000 specimens from the Cretaceous period, from Europe and the Middle East,
• about 8,000 type specimens and published specimens.

A type specimen is an important reference specimen. Scientists use it to describe and identify a species.

Why is the collection important?

The collection contains Jurassic animals from south-western Germany.

Scientists collected these animals layer by layer from the rock. Many of them are ammonites.

Ammonites were sea animals with spiral shells. They are now extinct.

The fossils help scientists compare rock layers from the Jurassic period. They also help scientists understand the order of these rock layers.

The fossils give information about the evolution of ammonites.

The collection also contains corals and other animals from the late Jurassic period.

These fossils help scientists reconstruct communities on Jurassic reefs. They show which animals lived together on these reefs.

Important fossils from Nusplingen and Holzmaden

The collection has many new fossils from Nusplingen.

Nusplingen has lithographic limestone from the Late Jurassic period. Lithographic limestone is a very fine rock. It can preserve fossils in great detail.

Nusplingen is now one of the most important fossil sites in southern Germany.

The collection also has many animals without backbones from the Posidonia Shale. This rock layer is from the Late Early Jurassic period.

These fossils show why the Holzmaden area is an important fossil site.

Published specimens

The collection includes specimens from scientific publications.

It contains 1,030 documents from publications by F. A. Quenstedt. These publications were published between 1845 and 1888.

Glossary

Ammonite
An ammonite was a sea animal with a spiral shell. Ammonites are extinct.

Cretaceous period
The Cretaceous period came after the Jurassic period.

Fossil
A fossil is the preserved remain or trace of a plant or animal from the past.

Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. Examples are insects, snails, and corals.

Jurassic period
The Jurassic period was a time in Earth’s history. Dinosaurs lived during this time.

Reef
A reef is an area in shallow water. Corals and many other animals can live there.

Specimen
A specimen is one object, plant, or animal kept in a museum collection.