Mammals, fish otoliths and charophytes from the Lower Cyrena Beds (Oligocene) of the folded molasse of Bavaria (Murnau syncline)

A new fossil faunal and floral assemblage is described from several localit ies in the Lower Cyrena Beds which are part of the Bavarian folded molasse. The localities are situated in the northeastern region of the Murnau syncl ine, Mammals, fish otoliths, and charophytes studied herein support a biost ratigraphic age of the Lower Cyrena Beds corresponding to the mammal level MP 24. Furthermore, remains of the terrestrial gastropod species Pomatias a ntiquum indicate a stratigraphic position within the Chattian (Upper Oligoc ene). Based on sedimentological and palaeoecological studies, we propose a deltaic or estuarine palaeoenvironment with mangrove vegetation for the Low er Cyrena Beds of the eastern region of the Murnau synclinc.