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Paleobiota of the London Clay

A list of prehistoric and extant species whose fossils have been found in the London Clay, which underlies large areas of southeast England.

Plant fossils, especially seeds and fruits, are found in abundance and have been collected from the London Clay for almost 300 years. Some 350 named species of plant have been found, making the London Clay flora one of the world's most diverse for fossil seeds and fruits. The flora includes plant types found today in tropical forests of Asia and demonstrates the much warmer climate of the Eocene epoch, with plants such as Nypa (Nipah palms) and other palms being frequently encountered. The following plants list is incomplete and is based on the research by Marjorie Chandler. and research works done by the paleobotanist Steven R. Manchester and by professor of plant palaeobiology Margaret Collinson.

Plants

Pteridophytes

*Acrostichum – mangrove fern
*Pteris sp. - brake
*Vittaria sp. – shoestring fern, similar to Vittaria lineata
*Cyathea sp. – similar to Cyathea delgadii
*Thyrsopteris sp. – similar to Thyrsopteris elegans
*Osmunda sp. – similar to Osmunda javanica
*Dryopteris sp.
*Diplazium sp. - similar to Diplazium smithianum
*Onoclea sp. – similar to Onoclea sensibilis (the sensitive fern)
*Nephrolepis sp.
*Azolla
*Marsilea sp. - similar to Marsilea quadrifolia

Lycopodiophytes

*Lycopodium sp.
*Phylloglossum sp. – similar to Phylloglossum drummondii (pygmy clubmoss)

Gymnosperms

* Ginkgo sp.
*Cycas sp. - similar to Cycas schumanniana
*Zamia sp. – similar to Zamia pumila
  • Araucariaceae – monkey puzzle, bunya pine, and Norfolk pine
*Agathis sp. - similar to Agathis dammara
*†Araucarites spp.
*†Doliostrobus stenbergi - fossils in the past named †Araucarites are said to be of this genus, it is now placed in its own family, †Doliostrobaceae.
*Pinus spp.
*?Taxaceae indet.
*†Cephalotaxus bowerbanki – plum yew
*Torreya sp.
*†Callitris curta (Callitrites curta) – cypress pine
*†Cupressinites spp.
*Libocedrus adpressa
*†Quasisequoia couttsiae
*Sequoia sp
*Sequoiadendron fordi
*Widdringtonia sp. – African cypresses
*Afrocarpus sp. – similar to Afrocarpus falcatus (common yellowwood)
*Podocarpus argillaelondinensis?
*Podocarpus sp. – similar to Podocarpus elatus (plum pine)
*Podocarpus sp. – similar to Podocarpus novae-caledoniae
*Podocarpus sp. – similar to Podocarpus nubigenus (Chilean podocarp, cloud podocarp)
*Prumnopitys sp. – similar to Prumnopitys andina (the Chilean plum yew)

Angiosperms

*†Caryotispermum cantiense
*Corypha sp.
*Livistona minima
*Nypa burtini (syn. Nipa burtini)
*Oncosperma anglica
*†Palmospermum bracknellense
*†Palmospermum cooperi
*†Palmospermum davisi
*†Palmospermum elegans
*†Palmospermum jenkinsi
*†Palmospermum minutum
*†Palmospermum ornatum
*†Palmospermum ovale
*†Palmospermum subglobulare
*Sabal grandisperma
*Serenoa sp.
*?Trachycarpus sp.
*Cyclanthus lakensis
*†Caricoidea obovata
*†Polycarpella caespitosa
*Posidonia parisiensis
*†Protobarclaya eocenica
*Victoria sp - similar to Victoria cruziana
*Liriodendron gardneri - tulip tree
*Magnolia angusta
*Magnolia crassa
*Magnolia davisi
*Magnolia lata
*Magnolia lobata
*Magnolia oblonga
*Magnolia pygmaea
*Magnolia rugosa
*Magnolia subquadrangularis
*Magnolia symmetrica
*†Myristicacarpum chandlerae
*Alphonsea sp.
*†Anonaspermum anonijorme - related to the genera Anonna and Polyalthia, most similar species is Annona muricata
*†Anonaspermum cerebellatum - Uvaria, Melodorum and Orophea shows closest resemblance to the fossil
*†Anonaspermum commune
*†Anonaspermum complanatum - related to Anonna and Melodorum
*†Anonaspermum corrugatum - related to the genera Anonna and Melodorum
*†Anonaspermum minimum - related to Dasymaschalon clusiflorum
*†Anonaspermum obscurum
*†Anonaspermum ovale - related to the genera Anonna and Melodorum
*†Anonaspermum pulchrum - related to Dasymaschalon clusiflorum
*†Anonaspermum punctatum - related to the genera Bocagea, Orophea, Unonopsis, and Guatteria
*†Anonaspermum rotundatum - distantly related to Polyauhia
*†Anonaspermum rugosum
*†Anonaspermum subcompressum
*Asimina sp. - similar to Asimina reticulata
*Orophea sp.
*Polyalthia sp.
*Rollinia sp.
*Uvaria sp.
  • Lauraceae – avocado and cinnamon family
*Beilschmiedia bognorensis
*Beilschmiedia eocenica
*Beilschmiedia gigantea
*Beilschmiedia oviformis
*Beilschmiedia pyriformis
*Cinnamomum grande
*Cinnamomum globulare
*Cinnamomum oblongum
*Cinnamomum ovoideum
*†Crowella globosa
*Endiandra spp.
*†Laurocalyx bowerbanki
*†Laurocalyx dubius
*†Laurocalyx fibrotorulosus
*†Laurocalyx globularis
*†Laurocalyx magnus
*†Laurocarpum crassum
*†Laurocarpum cupuliferum
*†Laurocarpum davisi
*†Laurocarpum inornatum
*†Laurocarpum minimum
*†Laurocarpum minutissimum
*†Laurocarpum ovoideum
*†Laurocarpum paradoxum
*†Laurocarpum proteum
*†Laurocarpum pyrocarpum
*†Laurocarpum sheppeyense
*Litsea pyriformis
*Ocotea sp.
*†Protoaltingia europaea
*†Protoravensara sheppeyensis
*Aristolochia sp.
*Illicium sp. - similar to Illicium floridanum
*Hibbertia bognorensis
*Tetracera? cantiensis
*Tetracera crofti
*Tetracera eocenica
*†Plataninium decipiens
*Dryandra acutiloba
  • Fagaceae – beech, oak and chestnut family
*†Quercinium pasanioides
  • Betulaceae – birch, alder and hornbeams
*Alnus richardsoni (syn. Petrophiloides richardsoni) – an alder
*†Ferrignocarpus bivalvis
*Myrica boveyana
  • Juglandaceae – walnut, hickory and pecan family
*†Juglandicarya bognorensis
*†Juglandicarya cooperi
*†Juglandicarya depressa - the most common Juglandacarya species in the London Clay
*†Juglandicarya lubbocki
*†Juglandicarya minuta
*†Petrophiloides richardsoni - among the two most abundant Juglandaceae species in the London Clay
*†Pterocaryopsis bognorensis - related to the genus Pterocarya
*Trochodendron pauciseminum
*†Haloragicarya sp.
*†Bognoria venablesi
*Meliosma cantiensis
*Meliosma jenkinsi
*Meliosma sheppeyensis
*†Bowerbankella tiliacoroidea
*†Davisicarpum gibbosum
*Diploclisia bognorensis
*†Eohypserpa parsonsi
*†Frintonia ornata
*Hypserpa sp.
*Jatrorrhiza sp.
*†Menispermicarpum rariforme
*†Menispermoxylon - close to the extant genus Tinomiscium
*†Microtinomiscium foveolatum
*†Palaeococculus lakensis
*†Palaeosinomenium pulchrum
*†Tinomiscoidea scaphiformis
*Tinospora excavata
*†Wardenia davisi
*Citronella sp.
*Toricellia sp. - very similar to Torricellia bonesii from the Clarno Formation of Oregon
*Corylopsis? bognorensis
*Corylopsis? latisperma
*Corylopsis venablesi
*†Jenkinsella sp.
*†Protoaltingia europaea
*Altingia sp.
*Liquidambar palaeocenica - sweetgum
*Fraxinus sp.
*Styrax sp.
*Camellia sp. - tea
*Gordonia sp.
*Stewartia sp.
*Eurya sp.
*Symplocos curvata
*Symplocos quadrilocularis
*Symplocos trilocularis
*Symplocos bognorensis
*?Leucopogon quadrilocularis
*Lissanthe sp.
*Rhododendron sp.
*†Sapoticarpum rotundatum
*†Sapoticarpum latum
*†Sapoticarpum duhium
*†Sapotispermum sheppeyense - allied to Chrysophyllum and Sideroxylon
*Batis sp. - similar to Batis maritima
*†Hightea elliptica
*†Hightea turgida
*†Myrtospermum variabile
*†Palaeorhodomyrtus subangulata - allied to Rhodomyrtus
*?Tapiscia sp. - bladdernut
*Acacia sp. – similar to Vachellia farnesiana
*Caesalpinia sp. - seed pods very similar to seed pods of C. claibornensis from the middle Eocene of Tennessee
*Dalbergia sp.
*†Leguminocarpon gardneri - seed pods most compatible to seed pods of species in Caesalpinia and Peltogyne
*†Leguminocarpon nervosum
*†Mimosites browniana
*Rubus sp.
*Elaeagnus sp. - oleaster, silverberry
*Ardisia eocenica
*Ceriops sp.
*†Palaeobruguiera elongata
*†Palaeobruguiera lata
*Oncoba variabilis
*†Oncobella sp.
*† Saxifragispermum spinosissimum
*†Decaplatyspermum bowerbanki
*†Wetherellia variahilis - related to Hugonia
*Pisonia sp. - the birdcatcher tree
*Erythropalum europaeum - Only one extant species of this genus which is a scandent shrubs or liana
*Erythropalum jenkinsi
*Erythropalum turbinatum
*Olax depressa
*Satureja sp.
*Ehretia clausentia
*Ehretia ehretioides
*Heliotropium sp.
*†Cantisolanum daturoides
*Datura sp. - similar to Datura ferox
*Datura sp. - similar to Datura metel
*Allamanda sp.
*†Ochrosella ovalis
*†Ochrosoidea sheppeyensis
*Boswellia sp.
*†Bursericarpum aldwickense
*†Bursericarpum bognorense
*†Bursericarpum ovale
*†Bursericarpum venablesi
*†Palaeobursera bognorensis
*†Protocommiphora europaea
*Choerospondias sheppeyensis
*Dracontomelon minimum
*Dracontomelon subglobosum
*Lannea europaea
*Lannea jenkinsi
*†Lobaticarpum variabile
*Mangifera sp. - mango
*Odina europaea
*Odina jenkinsi
*Odina subreniformis
*Poupartia sp.
*†Pseudosclerocarya subalata
*†Spondiaecarpon operculatum - according to several botanists, the pyritized specimens, originally described as Spondiaecarpon operculatum, represent locule casts of Torricellia sp.
*†Xylocarya sp.
*†Palaeeucharidium cellulare - allied to Eucharidium
*†Cranmeria trilocularis
*†Minsterocarpum alatum - closely related to the crape myrtle or crepe myrtle genus Lagerstroemia
*†Pachyspermum quinqueloculare
*†Tamesicarpum polyspermum
*†Cantitilia polysperma
*†Echinocarpus sheppeyensis
  • Moraceae – mulberry and fig family
*Artocarpus sp. – breadfruit
*Ficus sp. – fig
*Maclura sp.
*?Morus sp.
*†Urticicarpum scutellum
*Aleurites sp.
*Croton sp.
*Euphorbia sp. – similar to Euphorbia cotinifolia
*†Euphorbiospermum bognorense
*†Euphorbiospermum cooperi
*†Euphorbiospermum eocenicum
*†Euphorbiospermum obliquum
*†Euphorbiospermum subglobulare
*†Euphorbiospermum subovoideum
*†Euphorbiospermum venablesi
*†Euphorbiotheca minima
*†Euphorbiotheca sheppeyensis
*†Lagenoidea bilocularis
*†Lagenoidea trilocularis
*Manihot sp. – cassava
*†Wetherellia variabilis
*†Cucurbitospermum cooperi
*†Cucurbitospermum equiaelaterale
*†Cucurbitospermum sheppeyense
*†Cucurbitospermum triangulare
*Ampelopsis sp.
*†Palaeovitis sp.
*Tetrastigma corrugata
*Tetrastigma davisi
*Tetrastigma elliotti
*Tetrastigma sheppeyensis:*†Vitacexoylon sp. - close to the extant genus Rhoicissus
*Vitis bilobata
*Vitis bognorensis
*Vitis bracknellensis
*Vitis elegans
*Vitis longisulcata
*Vitis magnisperma
*Vitis obovoidea
*Vitis platyformis
*Vitis pygmaea
*Vitis rectisulcata
*Vitis semenlabruscoides
*Vitis subglobosa
*Vitis venablesi
*Atalaya sp. – similar to Atalaya variifolia from Australia
*†Cupanoides grandis - related to Cupania
*†Cupanoides tumidus - related to Cupania
*†Palaeallophylus minimus
*†Palaeallophyllus ovoideus
*†Palaeallophylus rotundatus
*†Palaealectryon spirale
*†Sapindospermum cooperi
*†Sapindospermum davisi
*†Sapindospermum grande
*†Sapindospermum jenkinsi
*†Sapindospermum ovoideum
*†Sapindospermum revolutum
*†Sapindospermum subovatum
*Toechima sp.
*Cedrela sp.
*†Melicarya variabili
*Toona sulcata
*†Canticarya gracilis
*†Canticarya ovalis
*†Canticarya sheppeyensis
*†Canticarya ventricosa
*†Caxtonia elongata
*†Caxtonia glandulosa
*†Caxtonia rutacaeformis
*†Citrispermum sheppeyense
*†Clausenispermum dubium
*†Eozanthoxylon glandulosum
*Euodia costata
*†Rutaspermum bognorense
*†Rutaspermum minimum
*†Shrubsolea jenkinsi
*†Zanthoxylon compression
*†Zanthoxylon bognorense
*†Canticarpum celastroides
*Catha sp. – most similar to Catha edulis (Khat)
*†Cathispermum pulchrum
*†Celastrinoxylon ramunculiformis
*Dombeya sp.
*†Sphinxia ovalis
*†Beckettia mastixioides
*Cornus ettingshausenii
*†Dunstania ettinghauseni
*†Dunstania multilocularis
*†Langtonia bisulcata
*†Lanfrancia subglobosa
*Mastixia cantiensis
*Mastixia grandis
*Mastixia parva
*†Portnallia bognorensis
*†Portnallia sheppeyensis
*Nyssa bilocularis
*Nyssa cooperi
*†Palaeonyssa multilocularis
  • Curtisiaceae
*Curtisia quadrilocularis
*Alangium jenkinsi
*†Faboidea crassicutis
*†Icacinicarya amygadaloidea
*†Icacinicarya bartonensis
*†Icacinicarya becktonensis
*†Icacinicarya bognorensis
*†Icacinicarya echinata
*†Icacinicarya elegans
*†Icacinicarya emarginata
*†Icacinicarya forbesii
*†Icacinicarya foveolata
*†Icacinicarya glabra
*†Icacinicarya inornata
*†Icacinicarya jenkinsi
*†Icacinicarya minima
*†Icacinicarya mucronata
*†Icacinicarya nodulifera
*†Icacinicarya ovalis
*†Icacinicarya ovoidea
*†Icacinicarya platycarpa
*†Icacinicarya pygmaea
*†Icacinicarya reticulata
*†Icacinicarya rotundata
*†Icacinicarya transversalis
*Iodes acutiform
*Iodes bilinica
*Iodes corniculata
*Iodes davisii
*Iodes eocenica
*Iodes multireticulata
*Mappia sp.
*Miquelia sp.
*Natsiatum eocenicum
*†Palaeophytocrene ambigua
*†Palaeophytocrene foveolata
*†Perforatocarpum echinatum
*†Sphaeriodes ventricosa
*†Stizocarya communis

Animals

Animal fossils include bivalves, gastropods, nautilus, worm tubes, brittle stars and starfish, crabs, lobsters, fish (including shark and ray teeth), reptiles (particularly turtles), and a large diversity of birds. A few mammal remains have also been recorded. Preservation varies; articulated skeletons are generally rare. Of fish, isolated teeth are very frequent. Bird bones are not infrequently encountered compared to other lagerstätten, but usually occur as single bones and are often broken.

The following fauna species list follows Clouter (2007).

Vertebrates

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Crocodylians

Snakes

Turtles and tortoises

Bony fish

Cartilaginous fish

Crustaceans

Molluscs

Cephalopods

Bivalves

Anomiidae

Astartidae

Gastropods

Tusk shells

Echinoderms

Annelids

Cnidarians

Other invertebrates

Ichnofossils

Notes

References