Fossile Invertebrates (Paleozoic and Triassic) at the Naturkundemuseum Stuttgart

Size and focus of the collection: About 25.000 specimens from the Palaeozoic (especially corals, nautilids, brachiopods, trilobites, crinoids and, to a lesser extent, bivalves and gastropods); 70.000 specimens from the earlier Mesozoic (Triassic), especially cephalopods (ceratitids and nautilids), bivalves, gastropods, brachiopods and echinoderms (crinoids, starfishes and sea urchins) from the Muschelkalk and Keuper of Baden-Württemberg as well as fossils such as corals, bivalves, gastropods, ammonoids, brachiopods and echinoderms) from the alpine Upper Triassic.

Significance of the collection: Palaeozoic: Important collection of published specimens from the "classic", partly unaccessible sites in Europe, especially from Germany. Larger collections come from the Lower Devonian of Bundenbach / Hunsrück and from the Middle Devonian of the Eifel.

Older Mesozoic (Trias): One of the largest special collections from the Muschelkalk and Keuper of Baden-Württemberg; large comparative collections from many sites in Central Europe. Special collections from many "classic" sites of the Alps, especially from the Middle and Upper Triassic of the Dolomites; about 1.000 types and figured specimens; historical special collections, including that of Friedrich von Alberti (1795-1878). The latter focuses on fossils from the Muschelkalk and Keuper of Württemberg, with the figured specimens and types of Alberti´s publications (Friedrich von Alberti 1826: Die Gebirge des Königreichs Würtemberg; Friedrich von Alberti 1834: Beitrag zu einer Monographie des Bunten Sandsteins, Muschelkalks und Keupers und die Verbindung dieser Gebilde zu einer Formation).

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Fossil collection from the Palaeozoic and Triassic periods

The collection contains fossils from 2 long periods in Earth’s history:

• the Palaeozoic period,
• the early Mesozoic period, also called the Triassic period.

Size and main focus

The collection has about 25,000 specimens from the Palaeozoic period.

These include mainly:

• corals,
• nautilids,
• brachiopods,
• trilobites,
• crinoids.

The collection also has smaller numbers of:

• bivalves,
• gastropods.

The collection has about 70,000 specimens from the Triassic period.

Most of these fossils come from Baden-Württemberg. They come from rock layers called Muschelkalk and Keuper.

The Triassic fossils include:

• cephalopods, such as ceratitids and nautilids,
• bivalves,
• gastropods,
• brachiopods,
• echinoderms, such as crinoids, starfish, and sea urchins.

The collection also has fossils from the Late Triassic period in the Alps. These include:

• corals,
• bivalves,
• gastropods,
• ammonoids,
• brachiopods,
• echinoderms.

Why is the Palaeozoic collection important?

The Palaeozoic collection includes many specimens from scientific publications.

Some fossils come from well-known sites in Europe. Some of these sites are now partly difficult or impossible to visit.

Many fossils come from:

• the Early Devonian period at Bundenbach in the Hunsrück region,
• the Middle Devonian period in the Eifel region.

Both areas are in Germany.

Why is the Triassic collection important?

This is one of the largest special collections from the Muschelkalk and Keuper of Baden-Württemberg.

The museum also has large collections for comparison. These fossils come from many sites in Central Europe.

The collection includes special fossils from well-known sites in the Alps.

Many fossils come from the Middle and Late Triassic periods in the Dolomites.

The collection has about 1,000 type specimens and figured specimens.

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

A figured specimen is a specimen shown in a scientific publication.

Historical collection of Friedrich von Alberti

The collection includes historical special collections. One important collection belonged to Friedrich von Alberti.

Friedrich von Alberti lived from 1795 to 1878.

His collection focuses on fossils from the Muschelkalk and Keuper in Württemberg.

It includes the specimens shown in his publications. It also includes his type specimens.

His important publications include:

• The Mountains of the Kingdom of Württemberg (1826),
• Contribution to a Monograph on Buntsandstein, Muschelkalk and Keuper, and Their Connection as One Formation (1834).

Glossary

Ammonoid
An ammonoid was an extinct sea animal. It usually had a spiral shell.

Brachiopod
A brachiopod is a sea animal with 2 shell parts. It may look like a clam, but it is a different kind of animal.

Bivalve
A bivalve is an animal with 2 shells. Examples are mussels and clams.

Cephalopod
A cephalopod is a sea animal. Squid, octopuses, and nautiluses are cephalopods.

Crinoid
A crinoid is a sea animal related to starfish and sea urchins. Some crinoids look like flowers.

Echinoderm
An echinoderm is a sea animal with a special body structure. Starfish and sea urchins are echinoderms.

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

Gastropod
A gastropod is an animal such as a snail.

Muschelkalk and Keuper
Muschelkalk and Keuper are names for rock layers from the Triassic period in Germany.

Nautilid
A nautilid is a cephalopod with a chambered shell. It is related to the modern nautilus.

Palaeozoic period
The Palaeozoic period was a long time in Earth’s history. It ended before the age of dinosaurs.

Triassic period
The Triassic period was part of the Mesozoic era. It came before the Jurassic period.