Pliensbachian

The Pliensbachian ended with the extinction event called the Toarcian turnover. During the Pliensbachian, the middle part of the Lias was deposited in Europe. The Pliensbachian is roughly coeval with the Charmouthian regional stage of North America.

Stratigraphic definitions

The Pliensbachian takes its name from the hamlet of Pliensbach in the community of Zell unter Aichelberg in the Swabian Alb, some 30 km east of Stuttgart in Germany. The name was introduced into scientific literature by German palaeontologist Albert Oppel in 1858.

The base of the Pliensbachian is at the first appearances of the ammonite species Bifericeras donovani and genera Apoderoceras and Gleviceras. The Wine Haven profile near Robin Hood's Bay (Yorkshire, England) has been appointed as global reference profile for the base (GSSP).

The top of the Pliensbachian (the base of the Toarcian Stage) is at the first appearance of ammonite genus Eodactylites.

Biostratigraphy

The Pliensbachian contains five ammonite biozones in the boreal domain:

• zone of Pleuroceras spinatum
• zone of Amaltheus margaritatus
• zone of Prodactylioceras davoei
• zone of Tragophylloceras ibex
• zone of Uptonia jamesoni

In the Tethys domain, the Pliensbachian contains six biozones:

• zone of Emaciaticeras emaciatum
• zone of Arieticeras algovianum
• zone of Fuciniceras lavinianum
• zone of Prodactylioceras davoei
• zone of Tragophylloceras ibex
• zone of Uptonia jamesoni