Paleofauna of the Messel Formation

A former quarry and now UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Messel Formation preserves what lived in and around a meromictic lake surrounded by a paratropical rainforest during the latest early to earliest middle Eocene, approximately 47 Ma.

[1] Spongillidae †Ephydatia Ephydatia gutenbergiana[2] Müller et al. 1982 A possibly rheophile species sponge, it grew dominant under favorable conditions and gradually replaced the native population of Lutetiospongilla until a change to the environment.

"Type 3"[2] Viviparidae Viviparus Undescribed[3] A freshwater snail found in certain layers of the Messel formation.

Moinidae Moina Undescribed[4] A water flea reported by Lutz from ephippia containing two eggs.

?Cybaeidae †Lutetiana †Lutetiana neli[7] Selden & Wappler, 2019 A possible cybaeid ground spider A Marronoidea based on leg length and clawsThe first described Messel arachnid.

Attelabidae †Palaeoalatorostrum †Palaeoalatorostrum schaali[9] Rheinheimer, 2007 An Attelabine leaf-rolling weevil †Cupes messelensis[10] (Tröster, 1993) A reticulated beetle species †Cupes nabozhenkoi[10] Kirejtshuk, 2020 A reticulated beetle species †Cupes wedmannae[10] Kirejtshuk, 2020 A reticulated beetle species †Palaeocrassirhinus messelensis[9] Rheinheimer, 2007 A Brachyderine weevil †Palaeocrassirhinus rugosithorax[9] Rheinheimer, 2007 A Brachyderine weevil †Palaeocneorhinus †Palaeocneorhinus messelensis[9] Rheinheimer, 2007 A Brachyderine weevil †Macropunctum angulosum[11] Tröster, 1999 A click beetle species.

Lucanidae Protognathinus †Protognathinus spielbergi[13] Chalumeau et al. 2001 A 55 mm (2.2 in) long stag beetle with preserved coloration.

messelense[15] Hornschemeyer, 1994 A tenebrionine darkling beetle Blaberidae Morphna †Morphna cenozoica[16] Šmídová, Vidlička & Wedmann, 2021 A Blaberid giant cockroach.

Nemestrinidae Hirmoneura †Hirmoneura messelense[20] Wedmann et al., 2021 A pollen feeding species of tangle-veined fly.

Dictyopharidae Wedelphus Wedelphus dichopteroides[22] Szwedo & Wappler, 2006 A dictyopharid planthopper Eurybrachidae Amalaberga Amalaberga ostrogothiorum[22] Szwedo & Wappler, 2006 An eurybrachid planthopper Lophopidae Baninus Baninus thuringiorum[22] Szwedo & Wappler, 2006 A lophopid planthopper Pentatomidae Eospinosus Eospinosus peterkulkai[23] Wedmann et al., 2021 A species of shield bug exhibiting prominent spiky protrustions possibly used in defense or camouflage.

eocenicus[33] Wedmann, Pouillon, & Nel, 2014 A siricid horntail waspUncertainly placed into Xoanon Vespidae Vespula?

hassiaca[34] Abels & Wedmann, 2021 A vespid waspTentatively placed with the yellowjackets ?Zygaenidae undescribed undescribed[35] Two undescribed moth taxa Possibly belonging to Zygaenidaewings scales with preserved structural coloration Mantispidae †Symphrasites †Symphrasites eocenicus[36] Wedman & Makarkin, 2007 A symphrasine mantidfly Described from an isolated forewing †Dysagrionidae †Petrolestes †Petrolestes messelensis[37] Garrouste & Nel, 2015 A damselfly Related to the North American P. hendersoni.

†Masillosteus †Masillosteus kelleri[43] Micklich & Klappert, 2001 A rare, blunt snouted gar that likely fed on small invertebrates.

Diplocynodon deponaie[76] (Frey, Laemmert & Riess, 1987) Paraprefica major[92] Jacanidae?

However, this placement typically occurred under the assumption that they are a group within gruiformes, which has been disputed by more recent analysis.

Instead more recent publications consider Cariamae (or Cariamiformes) as basal members of Australaves.

maximum[145] Lesmesodon edingeri[147] (Springhorn, 1982) Eurohippus messelensis[155] (Haupt, 1925) Europolemur koenigswaldi[160] Franzen, 1987 Alagomyidae[45] Ailuravus Ailuravus macrurus[163] Weitzel, 1949 An arboreal rodent that resembles modern squirrels in proportion.

It reached a total length of 1 m (3 ft 3 in), most of which consisting of the bushy tail, and primarily fed on leaves.