An introduction to the Mesozoic biotas of Scandinavia and its Arctic territories

Scandinavia and its Arctic territories host some of the most significant Mesozoic fossil deposits globally, offering unparalleled insights into the region's rich biodiversity during this era. Notably, the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Stevns Klint in Denmark provides one of the most complete Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary sections worldwide, while other key sites like Svalbard and the Kristianstad Basin in Sweden have revealed exceptional fossiliferous Lagerstätten. These deposits document diverse marine palaeocommunities, including benthic macroinvertebrates, pelagic cephalopods, chondrichthyans, actinopterygians, and aquatic amniotes such as ichthyopterygians and mosasauroids. Terrestrial plant remains, including exceptionally preserved carbonized flowers, further enrich the fossil record, occasionally accompanied by faunal traces like temnospondyl bones and dinosaur footprints. Despite substantial progress in research over the past 15 years, significant gaps remain, underscoring the potential for future discoveries that could deepen our understanding of Mesozoic life and environments.

Kear, B. P., Lindgren, J., Hurum, J. H., Milàn, J., & Vajda, V. (2016). An introduction to the Mesozoic biotas of Scandinavia and its Arctic territories. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 434(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1144/sp434.18