The Eocene -aged Monte Bolca fossil site near Verona , Italy was one of the first lagerstatte to be discovered to science, and still has one of the most prominent vertebrate faunas of all Cenozoic lagerstatte. It has the highest fish diversity of all known Cenozoic fossil sites, with many fossils having extremely detailed preservation. In addition, a very high diversity of marine invertebrates & land plants and a small number of land vertebrates are also known.
The Monte Bolca complex comprises two major marine limestone localities, the Pesciara (where fossils are found in caves) and the Monte Postale site (where fossils are directly quarried). The Pesciara is thought to represent a marine structural basin dominated by planktivorous fish, with an anoxic environment at the bottom that led to excellent preservation of fossils. Meanwhile, the Monte Postale site is thought to represent a turbid coastal area surrounded by mangroves , seagrass meadows , and coral reefs , with poorer fossil preservation.[ 1] In addition, a few small, slightly younger lignitic sites that preserve a Messel Formation -esque freshwater or brackish habitat are known nearby, which are the Purga di Bolca and Vegroni sites. These sites preserve terrestrial reptiles, freshwater plants, and freshwater/terrestrial mollusks, which are otherwise rare to absent from the complex.[ 2]
Cartilaginous fishes
Based on Marrama et al , 2021:[ 3]
Chimaeras
Chimaeras reported from Monte Bolca
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Ischyodus
I. sp.
Monte Postale
A relative of plough-nosed chimaeras , known from a single dorsal spine.
I. quenstedti , a related species
Sharks
An alleged specimen from Bolca of the otherwise Cretaceous shark Mesiteia emiliae has been found to actually originate from the Sannine Formation of Lebanon .[ 3]
Rays
Ray-finned fishes
Primarily based on Papazzoni et al . 2014, with more recent taxa also added.[ 5] Taxonomic order and arrangement based on Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (2025):[ 6]
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Abdobalistum
A. thyrsus
A nursalliine pycnodont .
Nursallia
N. veronae
A nursalliine pycnodont.
Palaeobalistum
P. orbiculatum
A nursalliine pycnodont.
P. goedeli , a related species
Pycnodus
P. apodus
A pycnodontine pycnodont.
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Foreyichthys
F. bolcensis
A bonytongue .
Monopteros
M. gigas
A bonytongue.
Thrissopterus
T. catullii
A bonytongue, related to the arapaima .
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Bolcaichthys
B. catopygopterus
Pesciara & Monte Postale
A true herring . The most common fish of the formation.[ 7]
Eoalosa
E. janvieri
Pesciara
A shad .[ 8]
Eoengraulis
E. fasoloi
Pesciara
An anchovy .[ 9]
Trollichthys
T. bolcensis
Pesciara
A round herring .[ 10]
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Eoellimmichthys
E. superstes
Pesciara
A paraclupeid, the last marine ellimmichthyiform .[ 11]
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Chanos
C. forcipatus
A milkfish.[ 12]
C. chanos , a related species
Coelogaster
C. leptostea
A relative of the milkfish.
Otophysi
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Chanoides
C. macropoma
A stem-otophysan .[ 13]
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Bajaichthys
B. elegans
A zeiform (initially considered a lamprimorph)
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
"Ophidium "
"O. " voltianum
A cusk-eel .
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Apogoniscus
A. pauciradiatus
A cardinalfish .
Bolcapogon
B. johnsoni
A cardinalfish.
Carlomonnius
C. quasigobius
A gobioid of uncertain affinities.[ 14]
Eoapogon
E. fraseri
A cardinalfish.
Eosphaeramia
E. pygopterus
A cardinalfish.
Leptolumamia
L. vetula
Monte Postale
A cardinalfish.[ 15]
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Auxides
A. propterygius
A scombrid .
Carangopsis
C. brevis
A relative of bluefish .
C. dorsalis
Godsilia
G. lanceolata
A scombrid.
Pseudauxides
P. speciosus
A scombrid.
]
Thunnoscomberoides
T. bolcensis
A scombrid.
Veronaphleges
V. brunae
A euzaphlegid .
]
Zorzinia
Z. postalensis
Monte Postale
A medusafish .
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Bellwoodilabrus
B. landinii
A wrasse .
Eocoris
E. bloti
A wrasse.
"Labrus "
"L. " merula (="L. " valenciennesi )[ 18]
A labroid of uncertain affinities.
Labrobolcus
L. giorgioi
Pesciara
A wrasse.
Paralabrus
P. rossiae
Pesciara
A presumed wrasse.
Phyllopharyngodon
P. longipinnis
A wrasse related to hogfish and tuskfishes .[ 18]
Sorbinia
S. caudopunctata
A labroid of uncertain affinities.
Zorzinilabrus
Z. furcatus
Pesciara
A wrasse.
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Abromasta
A. microdon
A seabream .
Acanthonemus
A. subaureus
An acanthonemid .
Acanthopygaeus
A. agassizi
A relative of rabbitfish .
Aspesiganus
A. margaritae
A relative of rabbitfish.
Aspesiperca
A. ruffoi
Possibly a mojarra .
Acanthuroides
A. massalongoi
A surgeonfish .
Angiolinia
A. mirabilis
Pesciara
A zanclid .
Archaephippus
A. asper
A spadefish .
"Dentex "
"D." microdon
A seabream, "D ." ventralis is a nomen dubium .
"D." ventralis
Ellaserrata
E. monksi
A seabream.
Eoantigonia
E. veronensis
A boarfish .
Eoplatax
E. papilio
A spadefish.
Eoleiognathus
E. dorsalis
A ponyfish .
Eorandallius
E. elegans
A surgeonfish.
E. rectifrons
Eoscatophagus
E. frontalis
A scat .
Eozanclus
E. brevirostris
A zanclid.
Frigosorbinia
F. baldwinae
A surgeonfish.
Gazolaichthys
G. vestenanovae
A surgeonfish.
Goujetia
G. crassispina
A snapper .
Lehmanichthys
L. lessiniensis
A surgeonfish.
Lessinia
L. horrenda
A snapper.
L. sp.
Massalongius
M. gazolai
A massalongiid.
Metacanthurus
M. veronensis
A surgeonfish.
Metaspisurus
M. emmanueli
A surgeonfish.
Ottaviania
O. leptacanthus
A snapper.
O. mariae
Padovathurus
P. gaudryi
A surgeonfish.
Pesciarichthys
P. punctatus
A surgeonfish.
Proacanthurus
P. bonatoi
A surgeonfish.
P. elongatus
P. ovalis
P. tenuis
Pristigenys
P. substriatus
A bigeye .
Protozebrasoma
P. bloti
A surgeonfish.
Pseudosparnodus
P. microstomus
A seabream.
Psettopsis
P. subarcuatus
A moonyfish .
Ruffoichthys
R. bannikovi
A relative of rabbitfish.
R. spinosus
Sorbinithurus
S. sorbinii
A surgeonfish.
Sparnodus
S. elongatus
A seabream.
S. vulgaris
Tauichthys
T. aspesae
A surgeonfish.
T. padremenini
Tylerichthys
T. milani
A surgeonfish.
T. nuchalis
Veranichthys
V. ventralis
A snapper.
Zaiaichthys
Z. postalensis
A moonyfish.[ 20]
Z. wattersi
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Caruso
C. brachysomus
A goosefish .
Eophryne
E. barbutii
A frogfish .
Histionotophorus
H. bassanii
A handfish .
Neilpeartia
N. ceratoi
Pesciara
A frogfish.[ 21]
Orrichthys
O. longimanus
A handfish.
Sharfia
S. mirabilis
A goosefish.
Tarkus
T. squirei
A batfish .
Percomorpha incertae sedis
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Acronuroides
A. eocaenicus
Pesciara
An indeterminate percomorph .
Anorevus
A. lorenzonii
Pesciara
Possibly a stem-flatfish .[ 22]
Bassanichthys
B. pesciaraensis
Pesciara
An eocottid .
Blotichthys
B. coleanus
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
Bolcaperca
B. craccorum
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.[ 20]
Bradyurus
B. alessandroi
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.[ 23]
B. szainochae
Callipteryx
C. speciosus
A callipterygid .[ 24]
Carangodes
C. bicornis
A carangodid .
Cyclopoma
C. gigas
Either a temperate perch or a relative of snooks .
Dibango
D. volans
Pesciara
A bizarre indeterminate percomorph, previously considered a species of Pegasus or a taeniosome lampriform.[ 25]
Eocottus
E. veronensis
An eocottid.
Exellia
E. velifer
An exellid.
Frigoichthys
F. margaritae
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
Frippia
F. labriformis
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
Gillidia
G. antiqua
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
Guus
G. microcephalus
Pesciara
A tortonesid (formerly considered a gobioid ).
Hendrixella
H. grandei
A robertanniid.
Jimtylerius
J. temnopterus
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
Latellopsis
L. latellai
A perciform of uncertain affinities.[ 26]
Malacopygaeus
M. oblongus
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
Montepostalia
M. annamariae
Monte Postale
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
Nickcaves
N. pterygocephalus
Monte Postale
A pietschellid.[ 27]
Parapelates
P. quindecimalis
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
Parapygaeus
P. polyacanthus
An indeterminate percomorph.
Pavarottia
P. astescalpone
Monte Postale
A pavarottiid.[ 23]
P. lonardonii
Monte Postale
P. maiseyi
Pesciara
Pietschellus
P. aenigmaticus
Monte Postale
A pietschellid.[ 27]
Pygaeus
P. bolcanus
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
P. nobilis
P. nuchalis
Quasicichla
Q. mucistonaver
An indeterminate percomorph.
Quasinectes
Q. durello
Monte Postale
Possibly a stem-flatfish .
Quasimullus
Q. sorbinii
A quasimullid.
Robertannia
R. sorbiniorum
A robertanniid.
Sorbinicapros
S. sorbiniorum
A sorbinipercid .
Sorbiniperca
S. scheuchzeri
A sorbinipercid.
Squamibolcoides
S. minciottii
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
Stefanichthys
S. mariannae
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
Tortonesia
T. esilis
A tortonesid.
Veronabrax
V. schizurus
A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
Zorzinichthys
Z. annae
A zorzinichthyid.
Acanthomorpha incertae sedis
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Oncolepis
O. isseli
An acanthomorph of uncertain affinities, possibly a goby.[ 28]
Protoaulopsis
P. bolcensis
An acanthomorph of uncertain affinities.
Xiphopterus
X. falcatus
An acanthomorph of uncertain affinities.
Reptiles
Based on Seghetti et al , 2022:[ 29]
Crocodilia
A record of "C. cf. vicetinus " that is now assigned to Diplocynodon is thought to actually originate from the Oligocene -aged Monteviale site, as opposed to Bolca.[ 29]
Testudines
Squamata
Squamates reported from Monte Bolca
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Anomalophis
A. bolcensis
Pesciara
An anomalophiid snake .
Archaeophis
A. proavus
A palaeophiid snake.
"Coluber "
"C. " ombonii
Purga di Bolca
A snake of uncertain affinities.
Brachiopoda
Mollusca
[ 30]
Bivalvia
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Anomia
A. sp.
Arcopagia
A. erycinoides
Monte Postale
Crassostrea
C. sparnacensis
Monte Postale
Divalinga
D. sp
Monte Postale
Fimbria
F. lamellosa
Monte Postale
F. major
Granocardium
G. sp.
Monte Postale
Katelysia
K. texta
Monte Postale
Lima
L. cf. papillifera
Meiocardia
M. carinata
Monte Postale
Modiola
M. postalensis
Monte Postale
Monitilora
M. elegans
Orthocardium
O. gratum
Monte Postale
Pitar
P. lunularia
Monte Postale
P. parisiensis
Pseudomiltha
P. escheri
Monte Postale
P. gigantea
Spondylus
S. radula
Monte Postale
Tellina
T. biangularis
Monte Postale
T. scalaroides
T. sp.
Venerella
V. secunda
Monte Postale
Gastropoda
Based on:[ 2] [ 31]
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Acteon
A. subinflatus
Monte Postale
Ampullina
A. hybrida
Monte Postale
A. vulcani
Archicypraea
A. lioyi
Monte Postale
Architectonica
A. bistriata
Monte Postale
Bellatara
B. palaeochroma
Monte Postale
Bezanconia
B. pyrenaica
Monte Postale
Calliostoma
C. raffaelei
Monte Postale
C. mayeri
Campanile
C. vicetinum
Monte Postale
Cassis
C. postalensis
Monte Postale
Cepatia
C. cepacea
Monte Postale
Cerithium
C. chaperi
Monte Postale
C. fabani
Clanculus
C. zignoi
Monte Postale
Clavilithes
C. rugosus
Monte Postale
Cryptoconus
C. priscus
Monte Postale
Cypraedia
C. elegans
Monte Postale
C. interposita
Cypraeglobina
C. praegnans
Monte Postale
Dentellocaracolus
D. damnatus
Purga di Bolca
A helicid land snail.[ 32]
Dialopsis
D. incompleta
Digitolabrum
D. princeps
Monte Postale
“Drupa ”
"D ." crossei
Monte Postale
Hemiconus
H. incomptus
Monte Postale
Hippeutis
H. muzzolonicus
Purga di Bolca
A freshwater ramshorn snail .[ 2] [ 33]
Hipponix
H. cornucopiae
Monte Postale
Homalopoma
H. minimum
Monte Postale
Leptoconus
L. deperditus
Monte Postale
Leucodiscus
L. helicinoides
Monte Postale
Liocarenus
L. hilarionis
Monte Postale
Littoraria
L. postalensis
Monte Postale
Melanopsis
M. vicetina
Purga di Bolca
An estuarine melanopsid snail.[ 2] [ 34]
“Melongena ”
"M ." robusta
Monte Postale
Neritopsis
N. agassizi
Monte Postale
Pachycrommium
P. circumfossa
Monte Postale
"Patella "
"P. " boreani
Monte Postale
Procyclotopsis
P. obtusicosta
Purga di Bolca
A pomatiid land snail.[ 2] [ 35] [ 36]
Pseudamaura
P. circunfossa
Monte Postale
Pseudobellardia
P. auriculata
Monte Postale
P. gomphoceras
Pseudovertagus
P. striatus
Monte Postale
Ptychocerithium
P. lamellosum
Monte Postale
Pyrazopsis
P. pentagonatus
Monte Postale
Semiterebellum
S. postalensis
Monte Postale
Seraphs
S. convolutum
Monte Postale
Tenagodus
T. sp
Monte Postale
Tympanotonos
T. tristriatus
Monte Postale
Velates
V. schmidelianus
Monte Postale
Vermicularia
V. biangulatus
Monte Postale
Vicetia
V. hantkeni
Monte Postale
Voluta
V. musicalis
Monte Postale
Cephalopoda
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Aturia
A. ziczac
A nautiloid .
A related species.
Bolcaoctopus
B. pesciaraensis
Pesciara
An octopodid octopus with preserved imprints (formerly referred to as "Teuthida " indet.).[ 37]
Spirulirostra
S. georgii
Pesciara
A spirulid , known from a partial phragmocone.
Annelida
[ 30]
The genus Sthenelaites , formerly interpreted as a bristleworm, is now thought to represent a fossilized green algae in the Dasycladaceae .[ 30]
Arthropods
Arachnida
Crustacea
[ 30] [ 39]
Insecta
[ 30] [ 41]
Odonata
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Bolcacordulia
B. paradoxa
Pesciara
A bolcacorduliid dragonfly .[ 42]
Bolcathemis
B. nervosa
A palaeomacromiid dragonfly.[ 42] [ 43]
Bolcathore
B. colorata
A bolcathorid damselfly .[ 42]
Orthoptera
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Pterotriamescaptor
P. tridactylina
Pesciara
A mole cricket .
Hemiptera
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Halobates
H. ruffoi
Pesciara
A sea skater , the earliest known from the fossil record.
H. matsumurai , a modern species
Diptera
Cnidaria
Fungi
Plantae
Based on Massalongo (1859), though many taxa are form taxa , highly dubious or nomina nuda , and/or use outdated taxonomy:[ 44] [ 45]
Red algae
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Amansites
A. prionomorphus
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A red alga , possibly a florideophycean .
Ceramites
C. codioides
A red alga, possibly a ceramiale .
C. floccosa
C. parasitica
C. pectinata
C. sciuroides
C. sphacelarioides
Chondrites
C. dasyphyllus
A red alga, possibly a florideophycean.
C. dichotomus
C. pollinianus
C. rytiphloeoides
C. tenuissimus
Delesserites
D. bolcensis
A red alga, possibly a florideophycean.
D. calophyllus
D. dimidiatus
D. heckelianus
D. pinnatus[ 45]
D. podocarpiphyllus
D. manganottii
D. sessilis
D. ovatus
Melobesites
M. membranacea
A red alga, possibly coralline alga .
Pterigophycos
P. canossae
A red algae, possibly a florideophycean, highly variable in leaf shape, indicating that there may not be multiple species.[ 46]
P. gazolanus
P. pinnatifidus
P. spectabilis
Sphaerococcites
S. dendroides
A red alga, possibly a florideophycean.
?S. fastigiatus
Green algae
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Aristophycos
A. aghardianus
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An green alga .
Caulerpites
C. araucaria
An green alga.
Nemalionites
N. cristatus
An green alga.
N. limacoides
Pteridophytes
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Asplenites
A. rhadamanti
Vegroni
A fern.
Cystorrhiza
C. pillularioides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A marsilacean fern .
Fortisia
F. renieriana
Vegroni
A fern.
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms
Monocots
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Albucastrum
A. perianthioideum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A liliacean .
Apludophyton
A. cucubaloides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A grass .
A. scleroides
Arundinites
A. dracenophylla
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A grass.
Bromelianthus
B. heuflerianus
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An apparent bromeliad , but taxonomic assignment disputed.[ 47]
Castellinia
C. ambigua
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A palm fruit.
C. compressa
C. elliptica
?C. incurva
C. macrocarpa
?C. subrotunda
Caulinites
C. divaricatus
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A seagrass .
C. equisetimorphus
Crinanthus
C. fenzlianus
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A liliacean.
Cyperites
C. bolcensis
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A sedge .
C. eocenus
Geonomites
G. saturnia
Vegroni[ 2]
A palm leaf.
Halochloris
H. castelliniana
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A seagrass.
H. cymodoceoides
H. fluitans
H. meneghinii
H. stolonifera
H. striata
H. subsecunda
H. ungeri
H. veronensis
Latanites
L. brocchiana
Vegroni
A palm, whole trees sometimes preserved.
L. galilejana
Vegroni
L. parvula
Pesciara-Monte Postale
L. pinnata
Vegroni
L. praticinensis
Vegroni & Purga di Bolca[ 2]
L. vegronum
Vegroni
Musophyllum
M. italicum
Vegroni
A potential banana relative.
Palaeorchis
P. rhizoma
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An orchid.
Palaeospathe
P. elliptica
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A palm fruit.
P. lata
Palmacites
P. neocaenus
Vegroni
A palm.
Phoenicites
P. danteana
Vegroni
A palm leaf.
P. veronensis
P. wettinioides
Poacites
P. juncoides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A grass.
Posidocea
P. frickhingeri
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A posidoniacean seagrass. Taxonomy affinity uncertain, as floral structures differ from those of Posidonia .[ 48] [ 49]
Protorchis
P. monorchis
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An orchid.
Ruppia
R. aristata
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A wigeongrass .
?Smilacites
?S. lancea
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A smilacean .
"Thecophyllum "
T. flabellatum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A palm.
Stratiotes (=Folliculites )
S. kaltennordheimensis
Purga di Bolca
A water-soldier (formerly considered a potential casuarinacean )[ 50]
Typhaeloipum
T. spadae
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A cattail relative.
Zannichelliopsis
Z. repens
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A seagrass.
"Dicots"
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Acacia
A. buellana
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential acacia .
A. eugenioides
A. primordialis
Ampelophyllum
A. bolcense
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Vitaceae .
A. noeticum
A. voltianum
Anadenia
A. italica
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An apparent grevillea .
A. pighiana
Apocynophyllum
A. bozzianum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Apocynaceae .
A. oligocaenum
Vegroni
A. terminaliaefolium
Pesciara-Monte Postale
Andromeda
A. biloba
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A relative of the bog-rosemary .
A. cincinnati
A. latina
A. palaeogaea
A. santalina
A. stillingioides
A. tromodophylla
A. visianii
Aralia
A. primaeva
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A spikenard .
Aralianthea
A. brogniartii
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential spikenard.
A. laurina
A. zizioides
Banksia
B. longifolia
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An apparent banksia .
?Berberis
?B. prisca
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential barberry .
Bignonia
B. boroniaefolia
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A bignonia .
B. limoniaefolia
B. moringaefolia
Bubulcia
B. alismantha
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Zygophyllaceae .
B. globifera
Bumelia
B. buxioides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A bully tree .
B. calceolarii
B. clusiaefolia
B. cuneifolia
Caesalpinia
C. eocenica
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A legume .
Calligonopsis
C. pallasioides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A knotweed .
C. strumphsioides
Cassia
C. enervis
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A legume .
Ceanothus
C. cornifolius
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A ceanothus .
Celastrophyllum
C. gaudinianum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Celastraceae .
C. oleaefolium
Celastrus
C. nitrariaefolius
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential staff vine .
C. scandentifolius
Ceratophyllum
C. cuspidatum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A coontail .
Cinnamomum
C. antiquum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A cinnamon .
C. veronense
Coccolobites
C. morindioides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Polygonaceae .
Crataegus
C. moscardianus
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential hawthorn .
Cucubalites
?C. flagellum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Caryophyllaceae .
C. postalensis
Dombeyopsis
D. affinis
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential "Byttneriaceae ".
D. bixaefolia
D. ceanothifolia
D. decipiens
D. deformis
D. glandulifera
D. granadilla
D. hibiscifolia
D. incerta
D. kleinhowiaefolia
D. populina
D. sublobata
D. tilioides
Drepanocarpus
D. dacampii
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A legume .
D. nummus
Dryandra
D. chironis
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An apparent dryandra .
D. meneghinii
D. veronensis
Eucalyptus
E. aconicophylla
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential eucalypt .
E. italica
E. rhododendrophylla
E. targue
Eugenia
E. andiraefolia
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A probable Myrtaceae .
E. dactylostemoides
E. laurifolia
Euonymus
E. maytenopsis
Vegroni
A potential Celastraceae .
Ficus
F. bolcensis
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A fig .
F. coelestis
F. poniana
F. psichotrioides
F. veronensis
Fracastoria
F. anguria
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Sterculioideae , based on fruits.
F. citriformis
F. citrullus
F. clavaeformis
F. cucurbitina
F. gastrioides
F. gigantea
F. lagenaria
F. megapepo
F. melo
F. pomiformis
F. pyramidalis
F. pyriformis
F. rotunda
F. zignoana
Gautiera
G. trichoides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A wintergreen .
Getonia
G. bolcensis
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential relative of ukshi .
G. potentilloides
Glossophium
G. eocenum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An apparent riverweed.
G. proliferum
Grewia
G. coccolobaefolia
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Tiliaceae .
Guajacites
G. berengerii
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Zygophyllaceae .
G. enervis
G. heeri
Hesperidophyllum
H. citroides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Rutaceae .
H. ettingshauseni
H. scalpellum
Jacaranda
J. italica
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An apparent jacaranda .
J. speciosa
Juglans
?J. costata
Vegroni
A potential walnut .
J. elaenoides
Vegroni
J. ossilii
Pesciara-Monte Postale
J. sapindacea
Koelreuteria
K. corcorifolia
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Koelreuteria .
K. maffejana
Leguminosites
L. phaseolus
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A legume .
Leptomeria
L. distans
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A mistletoe .
L. gracilis
L. psilotina
Maffeia
M. ceratophylloides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential riverweed .
Malpighiastrum
M. ambiguum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Malpighiaceae .
M. dehaasioides
M. hyraeaeoides
Manglesia
M. synaphaeaefolia
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An apparent grevillea.
Melianthus
M. craccorum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential honey flower .
Myrica
M. zig-zag
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A bayberry .
Myrtomiophyton
M. stephanophorus
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Myrtaceae .
?Nandina
?N. consolatii
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential relative of nandina .
Nymphaea
N. arethusae
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A waterlily .
N. cherpica
Omalanthus
O. hekastophylloides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Euphorbiaceae .
Palaeolobium
P. alnifolium
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A legume .
P. brennonicum
P. buteaefolium
P. cedrelaefolium
P. ficifolium
P. morindaefolium
P. nervosum
"Peltophyllum "
P. nelumbioides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Cabombaceae .
Phyllanthus
P. ceanothoides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Phyllanthaceae .
P. populinus
Pongamia
P. protogaea
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential relative of the Indian beech .
Protea
P. glossa
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An apparent sugarbush .
Pterocarpus
P. lestrigonum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A legume .
P. targionii
Pterospermum
P. malpighiaceum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential "Byttneriaceae".
Quercus
Q. vegronia
Vegroni
An oak .
Santalum
S. memecyloides
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A sandalwood .
Sapindus
S. goeppertianus
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A soapberry .
S. pristinus
S. scytinophyllus
Sapotacites
S. oleaefolius
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A sapotacean .
Sarothrostachys
S. eocenica
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A euphorbiacean.
Sophora
S. capparifolia
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A legume .
Sterculia
S. majae
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential tropical chestnut .
S. prisca
Terminalia
T. perseaefolia
Vegroni
A potential Combretaceae .
Trapophyllum
T. europaeum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential relative of water caltrops .
Tympanophora
T. bracteosa
Pesciara-Monte Postale
An apparent riverweed.
T. discophora
T. turbinata
Vaccinium
V. convolvulinum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A blueberry .
Villarsites
V. ungeri
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A gentian .
Weinmannia
W. ausoniae
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Cunoniaceae .
W. elaphriifolia
W. fagaraefolia
W. incerta
Zanthoxylum
Z. ambiguum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A potential Rutaceae .
Z. cherpicum
Incertae sedis
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Agnophyton
A. aristatum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
Plant of uncertain affinities.
Antholites
A. ligula
Pesciara-Monte Postale
Plant of uncertain affinities.
A. liliacea
A. nymphoides
Carpolithes
C. binucularis
Pesciara-Monte Postale
Fruit of uncertain affinities.
C. carandioides
C. chamaeropsis
Vegroni
C. lacunosus
Pesciara-Monte Postale
C. longipes
C. micropepo
C. orbis
C. subtriangularis
C. vegronum
Vegroni
Chromista
Genus
Species
Presence
Notes
Images
Dictyotites
D. aspergillum
Pesciara-Monte Postale
A brown alga .
D. menegazzianus
D. radiatus
D. rigidus
D. stipitatus
Laminarites
L. irideaephyllus
A brown alga.
L. lamourouxii
L. macrophyllus
L. scolopendra
L. vestenae
Pasinia
?P. ambigua
A brown alga.
P. elliptica
P. incurva
P. ovalis
P. pyriformis
P. rotundata
Postelsiopsis
P. caput-medusae
A kelp similar in form to the sea palm .[ 45]
Zonarites
Z. chlorophlegma
A brown alga.
Z. flagellaris
Z. fuliginosus
References
^ Marramà, Giuseppe; Bannikov, Alexandre F.; Tyler, James C.; Zorzin, Roberto; Carnevale, Giorgio (2016-07-15). "Controlled excavations in the Pesciara and Monte Postale sites provide new insights about the palaeoecology and taphonomy of the fish assemblages of the Eocene Bolca Konservat-Lagerstätte, Italy" . Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology . 454 : 228– 245. Bibcode :2016PPP...454..228M . doi :10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.04.021 . hdl :2318/1566931 . ISSN 0031-0182 .
^ a b c d e f g h "The Purga di Bolca-Vegroni sites" . iris.cnr.it . Retrieved 2024-08-31 .
^ a b Marramà, Giuseppe; Carnevale, Giorgio; Kriwet, Jürgen (2021). "Diversity, palaeoecology and palaeoenvironmental significance of the Eocene chondrichthyan assemblages of the Bolca Lagerstätte, Italy" . Lethaia . 54 (5): 736– 751. Bibcode :2021Letha..54..736M . doi :10.1111/let.12436 . ISSN 0024-1164 . PMC 9291491 . PMID 35873368 .
^ Marramà, G.; Villalobos-Segura, E.; Zorzin, R.; Kriwet, J.; Carnevale, G. (2023). "The evolutionary origin of the durophagous pelagic stingray ecomorph" . Palaeontology . 66 (4). e12669. Bibcode :2023Palgy..6612669M . doi :10.1111/pala.12669 . PMC 7614867 . PMID 37533696 .
^ Carnevale, G.; Bannikov, Alexandre F.; Marramà, G.; Tyler, James C.; Zorzin., R. (2014). "The Bolca Fossil-Lagerstätte: A window into the Eocene World. 5. The Pesciara- Monte Postale Fossil-Lagerstätte: 2. Fishes and other vertebrates. Excursion guide" (PDF) . Rendiconti della Società Paleontologica Italiana . 4 (1): i– xxvii. hdl :10088/25678 .
^ Fricke, R.; Eschmeyer, W. N.; Van der Laan, R. (2025). "ESCHMEYER'S CATALOG OF FISHES: CLASSIFICATION" . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 2025-02-10 .
^ Marramà, Giuseppe; Carnevale, Giorgio (2015-11-02). "The Eocene sardine † Bolcaichthys catopygopterus (Woodward, 1901) from Monte Bolca, Italy: osteology, taxonomy, and paleobiology" . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . 35 (6): e1014490. Bibcode :2015JVPal..35E4490M . doi :10.1080/02724634.2015.1014490 . hdl :2318/1566882 . ISSN 0272-4634 .
^ Marramà, Giuseppe; Carnevale, Giorgio (2018). "Eoalosa janvieri gen. et sp. nov., a new clupeid fish (Teleostei, Clupeiformes) from the Eocene of Monte Bolca, Italy" . PalZ . 92 (1): 107– 120. Bibcode :2018PalZ...92..107M . doi :10.1007/s12542-017-0378-0 . ISSN 1867-6812 . PMC 5830460 . PMID 29515269 .
^ Marramà, Giuseppe; Carnevale, Giorgio (2016). "An Eocene anchovy from Monte Bolca, Italy: The earliest known record for the family Engraulidae" . Geological Magazine . 153 (1): 84– 94. Bibcode :2016GeoM..153...84M . doi :10.1017/S0016756815000278 . ISSN 0016-7568 .
^ Marramà, Giuseppe; Carnevale, Giorgio (2014). "Eocene round herring (Teleostei: Clupeidae) from Monte Bolca, Italy" . Acta Palaeontologica Polonica . doi :10.4202/app.00057.2014 . hdl :2318/1525495 . ISSN 0567-7920 .
^ Marramà, Giuseppe; Bannikov, Alexandre F.; Kriwet, Jürgen; Carnevale, Giorgio (2019). Cavin, Lionel (ed.). "An Eocene paraclupeid fish (Teleostei, Ellimmichthyiformes) from Bolca, Italy: the youngest marine record of double-armoured herrings" . Papers in Palaeontology . 5 (1): 83– 98. Bibcode :2019PPal....5...83M . doi :10.1002/spp2.1230 . ISSN 2056-2799 . PMC 6392134 . PMID 30854219 .
^ Fara, Emmanuel; Gayet, Mireille; Taverne, Louis (2010-01-01), "The Fossil Record of Gonorynchiformes" , Gonorynchiformes and Ostariophysan Relationships , CRC Press, pp. 173– 226, doi :10.1201/b10194-6 , ISBN 978-0-429-06156-1 , retrieved 2024-07-11
^ Mayrinck, D.; Brito, P. M.; Otero, O. (2015-05-04). "Review of the osteology of the fossil fish formerly attributed to the genus † Chanoides and implications for the definition of otophysan bony characters" . Journal of Systematic Palaeontology . 13 (5): 397– 420. Bibcode :2015JSPal..13..397M . doi :10.1080/14772019.2014.893260 . ISSN 1477-2019 .
^ "†Carlomonnius quasigobius gen. et sp. nov.: the first gobioid fish from the Eocene of Monte Bolca, Italy" . iris.unito.it . Retrieved 2024-08-24 .
^ "PBDB Taxon" . paleobiodb.org . Retrieved 2024-08-24 .
^ Bellwood, D. R.; Bannikov, A. F.; Zorzin, R. (2025). "A new genus and species of damselfish (Pomacentridae) from the Eocene of Bolca, Northern Italy, with notes on the evolution of predator-prey interactions in coral reef fishes". Zootaxa . 5642 (6): 562– 572. doi :10.11646/zootaxa.5642.6.4 .
^ CALZONI, PIETRO; AMALFITANO, JACOPO; GIUSBERTI, LUCA; MARRAMÀ, GIUSEPPE; CARNEVALE, GIORGIO (2023-10-03). "EOCENE RHAMPHOSIDAE (TELEOSTEI: SYNGNATHIFORMES) FROM THE BOLCA LAGERSTÄTTE, ITALY" . Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia (in Italian). 129 (3). doi :10.54103/2039-4942/20707 . hdl :11577/3496820 . ISSN 2039-4942 .
^ a b Bellwood, David R.; Schultz, Ortwin; Siqueira, Alexandre C.; Cowman, Peter F. (2019). "A review of the fossil record of the Labridae" . Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. Serie A für Mineralogie und Petrographie, Geologie und Paläontologie, Anthropologie und Prähistorie . 121 : 125– 194. ISSN 0255-0091 . JSTOR 26595690 .
^ Maramma, Giuseppe; Bannikov, Alexandre F.; Carnevale, Giorgio (2020). "An Eocene scorpionfish from Monte Postale (Bolca Lagerstätte, northeastern Italy)" . Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana . 59 (2): 105– 112.
^ a b Museo, Comune Verona- (2019-10-17). "Museo di Storia Naturale - Vol. 23 (2023)" . museodistorianaturale.comune.verona.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-08-31 .
^ Carnevale, Giorgio; Pietsch, Theodore W.; Bonde, Niels; Leal, Maria E. C.; Marramà, Giuseppe (2020-03-03). "† Neilpeartia ceratoi , gen. et sp. nov., a new frogfish from the Eocene of Bolca, Italy" . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . 40 (2): e1778711. Bibcode :2020JVPal..40E8711C . doi :10.1080/02724634.2020.1778711 . ISSN 0272-4634 .
^ "IRMNG - Anorevus Bannikov & Zorzin, 2020" . www.irmng.org . Retrieved 2024-08-24 .
^ a b Museo, Comune Verona- (2019-10-17). "Museo di Storia Naturale - Vol. 22 (2022)" . museodistorianaturale.comune.verona.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-08-31 .
^ Bannikov, Alexandre F.; Zorzin, Roberto (2023). "On the osteology and relationships of the genus †Callipteryx Agassiz (Perciformes s.l.) from the Eocene of Bolca in northern Italy" . Studi e ricerche sui giacimenti terziari di Bolca, XXIII - Miscellanea Paleontologica . 20 : 35– 44.
^ Davesne, Donald; Carnevale, Giorgio (2025). "An enigmatic teleost fish from the Eocene of Bolca (Italy) with unusual larval-like features" . Papers in Palaeontology . 11 (3): e70017. doi :10.1002/spp2.70017 . ISSN 2056-2802 .
^ Alexandre F. Bannikov; Roberto Zorzin (2019). "A new genus and species of incertae sedis percomorph fish (Perciformes) from the Eocene of Bolca in northern Italy, and a new genus for Psettopsis latellai Bannikov, 2005" (PDF) . Studi e Ricerche Sui Giacimenti Terziari di Bolca, XIX - Miscellanea Paleontologica . 16 : 5– 15.
^ a b Carnevale, G.; Bannikov, A. F. (2015). "Pietschellidae fam. nov., a new family of miniature percomorph fishes from the Eocene of Bolca, with the description of a new genus and species". Studie Ricerche Sui Giacimenti Terziari di Bolca, XVI - Miscellanea Paleontologica . 13 . S2CID 90273137 .
^ Liu, Shang-Yin Vanson; Frédérich, Bruno; Lavoué, Sébastien; Chang, Jonathan; Erdmann, Mark V.; Mahardika, Gusti Ngurah; Barber, Paul H. (2018-08-01). "Buccal venom gland associates with increased of diversification rate in the fang blenny fish Meiacanthus (Blenniidae; Teleostei)" . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 125 : 138– 146. Bibcode :2018MolPE.125..138L . doi :10.1016/j.ympev.2018.03.027 . hdl :2268/221865 . ISSN 1055-7903 . PMID 29597008 .
^ a b Seghetti, Simone Matteo; Georgalis, Georgios L.; Tschopp, Emanuel; Delfino, Massimo (2022-08-03). "A historical overview of the reptile fauna from the Eocene Bolca Fossil-Lagerstätte (Italy)" . Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana . 61 (2): 119– 143. doi :10.4435/BSPI.2022.14 (inactive 12 July 2025). ISSN 0375-7633 . {{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
^ a b c d e f g "7. The Pesciara-Monte Postale Fossil-Lagerstätte: 4. The "minor fauna" of the laminites" . www.research.unipd.it . Retrieved 2024-08-31 .
^ Deutsche Geologische Gesellschaft.; Gesellschaft, Deutsche Geologische (1895). Zeitschrift der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft . Vol. Bd.47 (1895) [Incomplete]. [Berlin: Wilhelm Hertz.
^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Helix damnata Brongniart, 1823 †" . www.marinespecies.org . Retrieved 2024-09-14 .
^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Hippeutis muzzolonicus (Oppenheim, 1895) †" . www.marinespecies.org . Retrieved 2024-09-14 .
^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Melanopsis vicentina Oppenheim, 1890 †" . www.marinespecies.org . Retrieved 2024-09-14 .
^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Procyclotopsis obtusicosta (F. Sandberger, 1870) †" . www.marinespecies.org . Retrieved 2024-09-14 .
^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Procyclotopsis bolcensis (Oppenheim, 1895) †" . www.marinespecies.org . Retrieved 2024-09-14 .
^ Mironenko, Aleksandr; Giusberti, Luca; Serafini, Giovanni; Zorzin, Roberto; Bannikov, Alexandre F. (2024-09-16). "The First Cenozoic Octopod: A Lower Eocene Record from Bolca, Northeastern Italy" . Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia . 130 (3). doi :10.54103/2039-4942/23207 . ISSN 2039-4942 .
^ a b Kühl, Gabriele; Lourenço, Wilson R. (2017-09-01). "A new genus and species of fossil scorpion (?Euscorpiidae) from the Early–Middle Eocene of Pesciara (Bolca, Italy)" . PalZ . 91 (3): 283– 290. Bibcode :2017PalZ...91..283K . doi :10.1007/s12542-017-0372-6 . ISSN 1867-6812 .
^ Pasini, Giovanni; Garassino, Alessandro; De Angeli, Antonio; Hyžný, Matúš; Giusberti, Luca; Zorzin, Roberto (2019-09-25). "Eocene decapod faunas from the Konservat-Lagerstätten laminites of "Pesciara" (Bolca, Verona) and Monte Postale (Altissimo, Vicenza) in northeast Italy: a review and update" . Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen . 293 (3): 233– 270. doi :10.1127/njgpa/2019/0840 .
^ a b c "An unexpected Cenozoic record of palinurid lobsters (Achelata) from the lower Eocene of "Pesciara" (Bolca, Verona) and Monte Postale (Altissimo, Vicenza), northeastern Italy" . www.research.unipd.it . Retrieved 2024-09-07 .
^ "PBDB Collection" . paleobiodb.org . Retrieved 2024-08-31 .
^ a b c Gentilini, Giuseppe (2002). "Fossil damselflies and dragonflies from the Eocene of Monte Bolca, Italy (Insecta: Odonata" . Studi e Ricerche sui Giacimenti Terziari di Bolca, IX, Miscellanea Paleontologica . 6 : 7– 22.
^ Petrulevičius, Julián F.; Nel, André (2007). "Enigmatic and little known Odonata (Insecta) from the Paleogene of Patagonia and Northwest Argentina" . Annales de la Société entomologique de France . Nouvelle Série. 43 (3): 341– 347. doi :10.1080/00379271.2007.10697530 . ISSN 0037-9271 .
^ Massalongo, Abramo Bartolo (1859). Syllabus plantarum fossilium: Hucusque in formationibus tertiariis agri Veneti detectarum (in Latin). Merlo.
^ a b c Wilde, Volker; Roghi, Guido; Martinetto, Edoardo (2014). "The Pesciara-Monte Postale Fossil-Lagerstätte: 3. Flora" (PDF) . Rendiconti della Società Paleontologica Italiana (4): 65– 71.
^ Muzeum, Národní. "78-1" . National museum . Retrieved 2024-09-16 .
^ Kessous, Igor Musauer; Neves, Beatriz; Salgueiro, Fabiano; da Costa, Andrea Ferreira (2021). "A 100-Million-Year Gap in the Knowledge of the Evolutionary History of Bromeliaceae: A Brief Review of Fossil Records" . Feddes Repertorium . 132 (1): 20– 27. doi :10.1002/fedr.202000035 . ISSN 0014-8962 .
^ "PBDB Taxon" . paleobiodb.org . Retrieved 2024-09-27 .
^ Larkum, Anthony W. D.; Waycott, Michelle; Conran, John G. (2018), Larkum, Anthony W. D.; Kendrick, Gary A.; Ralph, Peter J. (eds.), "Evolution and Biogeography of Seagrasses" , Seagrasses of Australia: Structure, Ecology and Conservation , Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 3– 29, doi :10.1007/978-3-319-71354-0_1 , ISBN 978-3-319-71354-0 , retrieved 2024-09-27
^ Chandler, Marjorie Elizabeth Jane (1923). "The Geological History of the Genus Stratiotes : an Account of the Evolutionary Changes which have occurred within the Genus during Tertiary and Quaternary Times" . Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London . 79 (1– 4): 117– 138. Bibcode :1923QJGS...79..117C . doi :10.1144/GSL.JGS.1923.079.01-04.09 . ISSN 0370-291X .