The occurrence of the Middle Jurassic pachycormid fish Leedsichthys

Abstract

A review of the occurrences of the Middle Jurassic pachycormid fish Leedsichthys is presented, including a new French locality. The variety of past misidentifications of these remains is noted, and the bones reinterpreted according to information derived from the broader hypodigm of material available for study. Trace fossils from the Lower Callovian outside Basel in Switzerland are assessed with regard to Leedsichthys, in addition to a review of relevant body fossil material from France, Germany and Chile.