Late Jurassic selachians (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) from southern Germany: Re-evaluation on taxonomy and diversity

The record and taxonomy of Late Jurassic selachians from southern Germany is reviewed and discussed. The conservation lagerstätten of Nusplingen and the Solnhofen area are outstanding because they yielded numerous entire skeletons. Only a few studies of isolated teeth from localities elsewhere contributed to the knowledge of Late Jurassic selachian diversity of southern Germany. However, the current knowledge is still very incomplete. Bulk sampling of Kimmeridgian strata near the village of Mahlstetten (Baden-Württemberg) allows the study of a diverse selachian assemblage and significantly increases the number of selachian species from southern Germany. The Late Jurassic selachian fauna of southern German is amongst the most diverse known from the Jurassic of Europe, comprising at least 16 genera and 30 species. Hybodonts and synechodontiforms are comparably rare in Late Jurassic southern Germany faunas of whole-bodied specimens. Conversely, teeth of synechodontiforms dominate collections of isolated teeth. Completely articulated specimens of Paraorthacodus are presented from the lithographic limestones of Solnhofen for the first time. The validity of the hexanchiform genera Eonotidanus and Paranotidanus is discussed. The presence of two heterodontids, Heterodontus and Paracestracion, in the Late Jurassic is confirmed based on tooth morphologies and postcranial features. The composition of Late Jurassic selachian faunas indicate that the distribution of taxa is greatly influenced environmentally. Despite all recent advances, it is evident that the taxonomy of Late Jurassic selachians is still in urgent need of revision.