[1] The Crato Formation earns the designation of Lagerstätte due to an exceedingly well preserved and diverse fossil faunal assemblage.

Some 25 species of fossil fishes are often found with stomach contents preserved, enabling paleontologists to study predator-prey relationships in this ecosystem.

The unusual taphonomy of the site resulted in limestone accretions that formed nodules around dead organisms, preserving even soft parts of their anatomy.

[3][4] The Crato Member is the product of a single phase, where complicated sequence of sediment strata reflect changeable conditions in the opening sea.

[6] (Note: Many more insects have been described than are present in the table below) Araripenymphes[7] A. seldoni Nova Olinda Member A Cratosmylidae lacewing[8] Gracilepteryx G. pulchra An Eolepidopterigidae moth Makarkinia[9] M. adamsi M. kerneri A Kalligrammatid lacewing Mickoleitia M. longimanus A Coxoplectopteran insect Netoxena N. nana An Eolepidopterigidae moth Principiala[10] P. incerta An Ithonidae lacewing, type species of Principiala Psamateia P. calipsa An Eolepidopterigidae moth Rafaeliana R. maxima Neuropterida incertae sedis Undopterix U. cariensis An Eolepidopterigidae moth Arariphrynus[22] Arariphrynus placidoi[22] Cratia[22] Cratia gracilis[22] Cratopipa[23] Cratopipa novaolindensis Eurycephalella[22] Eurycephalella alcinae[22] Kururubatrachus[24] Kururubatrachus gondwanicus Pipoidea[22] Possible indeterminate pipoid remains.

[22] Calanguban C. alamoi A non-iguana lizard Tetrapodophis T. amplectus A stem group snake with limbs ?Avialae ?Avialan species Numerous isolated feathers Cratoavis C. cearensis An enantiornithine Kaririavis[25] K. mater An ornithuromorph ?Spinosauroidea ?Spinosaur species Isolated tooth listed in a book appendix.

Lacusovagus L. magnificens Nova Olinda Member Ludodactylus L. sibbicki An anhanguerid Tupandactylus T. imperator T. navigans ?Tupuxuara ?T.