# Süntel Formation

The Süntel Formation, previously known as the Kimmeridge Formation (German: "Mittlerer Kimmeridge"; Middle Kimmeridge), is a geological formation in Germany. It is Late Jurassic in age, spanning the early to late Kimmeridgian stage. It predominantly consists of limestone deposited in shallow marine carbonate ramp conditions.

## Description

The formation is part of the Lower Saxony Basin that borders the Süntel massif of the Lower Saxon Hills, part of the larger Harz Mountains. The formation is described as alternations of glauconitic marl, limestone and sandstone.

## Paleontological significance

The formation is known for its fossils, with the Langenberg Quarry having provided fossils of numerous vertebrates.

### Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs of the Süntel Formation :
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Abundance | Notes |
| Europasaurus | E. holgeri | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | Disarticulated remains representing numerous individuals | Sauropod dinosaur |
| Allosauroidea | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | DfMMh/FV1/19, small pedal ungual, cf. DfMMh/FV/343, small pedal phalanx | |
| cf. Ceratosauria | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | DfMMh/FV/776, anterior chevron | |
| cf. Megalosauroidea | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | DfMMh/FV/287, left fibula | |
| cf. Tetanurae | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | DfMMh/FV/105, distal caudal vertebra | |
| Theropoda | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | DfMMh/FV2/19, a small pedal phalanx III-1, DfMMh/FV3/19, proximal part of a small right fibula | |
| Theropoda | Indeterminate | Hannover: Lindener Berg, Tönniesberg, and Ahlem, Thüste, Marienhagen, Holzen, Kahlberg and Langenberg Quarry | | 18 distinct morphotypes of teeth, referred to "Tyrannosauroidea, as well as Allosauroidea, Megalosauroidea cf. Marshosaurus, Megalosauridae cf. Torvosaurus and probably Ceratosauria" | |

### Turtles

Turtles of the Süntel Formation :
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Abundance |
| Plesiochelys | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | | |
| cf. Thalassemys | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | | DFMMh/FV 296, "skull part (articulated quadrate, squamosal, basisphenoid, and pterygoid), a disarticulated 40 cm long partial carapace, plastron, and one cervical vertebra." |
| Eucryptodira | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 73 | Juvenile carapace with disarticulated skull and right forelimb |

### Squamates

Squamates of the Süntel Formation :
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Abundance | Notes | Images |
| Paramacellodidae | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | | Partial skeleton | | |

### Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs of the Süntel Formation :
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Abundance | Notes | Images |
| ?Dsungaripteridae | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | | DFMMh/FV 500, an articulated partial skeleton consisting of "10 thoracic vertebrae, complete pelvis and sacrum, left and right femur" with an associated possible partial right tibia. | | |

### Crocodyliformes

Crocodyliformes of the Süntel Formation :
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Abundance | Notes |
| Knoetschkesuchus | K. langenbergensis | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | two partial skeletons and various isolated bones | Atoposaurid |
| Machimosaurus | M. hugii | Langenberg Quarry | | | |
| Steneosaurus | S. brevirostris | Langenberg Quarry | | Rostrum, jaw and postcranial remains | |
| Goniopholis | G. simus | Langenberg Quarry | | | |

### Mammaliaforms

Mammaliaforms of the Süntel Formation :
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Abundance | Notes |
| Cimbriodon | C. multituberculatus | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | upper and lower p3, p4 and p5 molars | Paulchoffatiid multituberculate |
| Teutonodon | T. langenbergensis | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | NLMH 105650, upper right M1 | Pinheirodontid multituberculate |
| Storchodon | S. cingulatus | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | MH 105654, a right upper molar | A large morganucodont |
| Hercynodon | H. germanicus | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | NLMH 105668, left upper molar, NLMH 105669-70 right upper molars, NLMH 105671 left lower molar | Dryolestid |
| Docodon | D. hercynicus | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | two lower molars | Docodontid |
| Docodon | D. sp | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | distal fragment of lower molar | Docodontid |
| Paulchoffatiidae | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | Bed 83 | NLMH 105655, left p4, NLMH 105651; m1 | NLMH 105651 considered an Eobataarid by Martin et al. 2016, considered a Paulchoffatiid by Martin et al. 2019 |
| Dryolestida | Indeterminate | Langenberg Quarry | | | |

### Ichnofossils

Ichnofossils of the Süntel Formation :
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position |
| Megalosauripus | M. teutonicus | Bruns quarry tracksite | Sand-Tonkomplex Member |
| Elephantopoides | E. sp. | Bruns quarry tracksite | Sand-Tonkomplex Member |
| Elephantopoides | E. sp. | Strömer quarry tracksite | Sand-Tonkomplex Member |
| Grallator (Eubrontes) | Grallator (Eubrontes) sp. | Strömer quarry tracksite | Sand-Tonkomplex Member |
| Iguanodontipus | ?Iguanodontipus sp. | Strömer quarry tracksite | Sand-Tonkomplex Member |