A new microvertebrate fauna from the Middle Hettangian (Early Jurassic) of Fontenoille (Province of Luxembourg, south Belgium)

A Lower Jurassic horizon from Fontenoille yielding fossil fish remains can be dated to the Middle Hettangian Liasicus zone on the basis of the early belemnite Schwegleria and the ammonite Alsatites laqueus francus. Hybodontiform sharks are represented by Hybodusreticulatus, Lissodus sp., Polyacrodus sp, and Neoselachians by Synechodus paludinensis nov. sp. and Synechodus streitzi, nov. sp. Earlier reports of a scyliorhinid are not confirmed; teeth of similar morphology to scyliorhinids seem to be juvenile variants of S. paludinensis. Chimaeriform remains include Squaloraja sp., the earliest occurrence of the genus. The Actinopterygian fauna is introduced, comprising a palaeonisciform cf. Ptycholepis, a possible late perleidiform cf. Platysiagum, the dapediid semionotiforms Dapedium and cf. Tetragonolepis, the pycnodontiform Eomesodon, halecomorphs cf. Furidae or Ophiopsidae, pholidophoriforms and/or Leptolepididae, and actinistians. Lepidosaur remains are also present.