1. The Solnhofen Lagerstatten Unparalleled Detail in Jurassic Preservation

2. Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany

3. The Solnhofen Plattenkalk Cm scale beds of micrite Extremely fine Deposited in lagoon Probably hypersaline Possibly anoxic Little native fauna Fossils were washed into lagoon

4. Free-swimming Crinoid

5. Crustacean

6. Small Crocodillian Reptile

7. Dragonfly

8. Horseshoe Crab

9. A dance of death

10. Archaeopteryx – the Berlin Specimen

11. Archaeopteryx Originally thought to be a “typical” dinosaur Recognition of feathers First bird? Could it fly? Probably not a true bird Newer finds in China are much more directly linked to birds

12. Terminal Cretaceous Extinction: The K-T Boundary Mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Estimates vary from 15-40% of species Marine organisms – discussed previously Dinosaurs (but you knew that) Many non-dinosaur reptiles Many amphibians Many mammals Plants???? Requires further study What was the cause?