SOLNHOFEN LIMESTONE

division of Late Jurassic rocks (163 to 144 million years old) in the region of Solnhofen, Germany. The Late Jurassic rocks of the region consist of fossilized reefs (often bow-shaped) of corals and sponges within which lagoons existed during Jurassic times. In them, limy sediments slowly accumulated and formed very fine-grained limestones that are now used for the production of lithographic prints. The fine-grained texture of the Solnhofen Limestone has helped ensure remarkable preservation of Late Jurassic fossils. Even impressions of soft parts and internal organs are preserved. Among the fossil animals found in the Solnhofen Limestone, perhaps the most important is that of Archaeopteryx, the earliest known bird, very reptilian in appearance. Other animals include pterosaurs, or winged reptiles, and more than 100 species of insects, including such rarely preserved forms as moths and flies. In all, the Solnhofen Limestone has yielded more than 450 species of Jurassic animals; remarkably, 8 species of jellyfish, consisting entirely of soft parts, have also been preserved.