2 Leptolepides sprattiformis on Solnhofen slab

Description

The 2 Leptolepides sprattiformis on one slab come from the famous Jurassic Solnhofen Limestones, Germany. Leptolepides sprattiformis is a small fish that is very common in the Solnhofen Limestones. The species occurs in great numbers in a layer (Fischliflinz) in the Langenaltheim and Apfelthal Quaries.

The Solnhofen Limestone is quarried for centuries in the area around the towns of Solnhofen and Eichstadt. Solnhofen limestone was being used to print books and  became a ornamental stone. It was used primarily for walkways and patios.

Today, the Quarries located in Solnhofen produce cement. The industrial quarrying for cement does not produce any fossils. Neighboring quarries have been still hand worked for ornamental stone and fossils. Due to low demand in the recent decades many quarries closed down over the years. The for now the final blow came in July 2023 when all production stopped. The storages are full (for now?). Solnhofer Plattenkalk is Upper Jurassic and about 144 million years of age. Solnhofen is known to produce pristine and well preserved fossils.

The 2 Leptolepides sprattiformis on the slab are about 7 cm or 2.75 inches long.

For more information on Leptolepides and other fossils, you can go to or click here :  https://www.solnhofen-fossilienatlas.de and write the german name for fishes = “Fische” under Suche. If you want a english translation it would be better to google Solnhofen Fossilienatls and choose “translate this page” in Google already.

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Additional information