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. 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.
Cartilaginous fishes Based on Marrama et al, 2021:
Chimaeras Chimaeras reported from Monte BolcaGenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesIschyodusI. sp.Monte PostaleA relative of plough-nosed chimaeras, known from a single dorsal spine.
Sharks Sharks reported from Monte BolcaGenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesBrachycarchariasB. lericheiPesciaraA sand shark.EogaleusE. bolcensisPesciara & Monte PostaleA requiem shark.GaleorhinusG. cuvieriPesciara & Monte PostaleA relative of the school shark. An alleged specimen from Bolca of the otherwise Cretaceous shark Mesiteia emiliae has been found to actually originate from the Sannine Formation of Lebanon.
Rays Chondrichthyans reported from Monte BolcaGenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesArechiaA. crassicaudataMonte PostaleA stingaree.DasyomyliobatisD. thomyorkeiPesciaraA dasyomyliobatid stingray.EoplatyrhinaE. bolcensisMonte PostaleA thornback ray.EorhinobatosE. primaevusPesciaraA guitarfish.LessiniabatisL. aenigmaticaPesciaraA bizarre stingray of uncertain affinities.PlesiozanobatusP. egertoniPesciaraA relative of panrays.PromyliobatisP. gazolaiPesciaraA potential eagle ray.PseudorhinobatosP. dezigniiMonte PostaleA guitarfish.TethytrygonT. muricatusPesciaraA whiptail stingray.TitanonarkeT. megapterygiaMonte PostaleAn electric ray.T. molini
Ray-finned fishes Primarily based on Papazzoni et al. 2014, with more recent taxa also added. Taxonomic order and arrangement based on Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (2025):
Pycnodontiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesAbdobalistumA. thyrsusA nursalliine pycnodont.NursalliaN. veronaeA nursalliine pycnodont.PalaeobalistumP. orbiculatumA nursalliine pycnodont.PycnodusP. apodusA pycnodontine pycnodont.
Crossognathiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesPlatinxP. macropterusA pachyrhizodontid, the last crossognathiform.
Osteoglossiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesForeyichthysF. bolcensisA bonytongue.MonopterosM. gigasA bonytongue.ThrissopterusT. catulliiA bonytongue, related to the arapaima.
Anguilliformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesAnguilloidesA. branchiostegalisAn angulloidid eel.BolcanguillaB. brachycephalaAn eel of uncertain affinitiesBolcyrusB. bajaiA conger eel.B. formosissimusDalpiazellaD. brevicaudaA paranguillid eel.EoanguillaE. leptopteraAn anguillid eel.GazolapodusG. homopterusAn eel of uncertain affinities.GoslinophisG. acuticaudusA snake-eel.MilananguillaM. lehmaniA milananguillid eel.ParacongroidesP. heckeliA conger eel.ParanguillaP. tigrinaA paranguillid eel.PatavichthysP. bolcensisA patavichthyid eel.ProteomyrusP. ventralisA proteomyrid eel.VoltacongerV. latispinusA conger eel.WhitapodusW. breviculusA false moray.
Clupeiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesBolcaichthysB. catopygopterusPesciara & Monte PostaleA true herring. The most common fish of the formation.EoalosaE. janvieriPesciaraA shad.EoengraulisE. fasoloiPesciaraAn anchovy.TrollichthysT. bolcensisPesciaraA round herring.
Ellimmichthyiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesEoellimmichthysE. superstesPesciaraA paraclupeid, the last marine ellimmichthyiform.
Gonorynchiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesChanosC. forcipatusA milkfish.CoelogasterC. leptosteaA relative of the milkfish.
Otophysi GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesChanoidesC. macropomaA stem-otophysan.
Aulopiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesHolosteusH. esocinusA barracudina.
Lampriformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesVeronaveliferV. sorbiniiA sailfin velifer.WettoniusW. angeloiA sailfin velifer. (=Velifer carosii)
Zeiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesBajaichthysB. elegansA zeiform (initially considered a lamprimorph)
Holocentriformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesBerybolcensisB. leptacanthusA basal holocentrid.EoholocentrumE. macrocephalumA soldierfish.TenuicentrumT. lanceolatumA basal holocentrid.
Ophidiiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImages"Ophidium""O." voltianumA cusk-eel.
Gobiiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesApogoniscusA. pauciradiatusA cardinalfish.BolcapogonB. johnsoniA cardinalfish.CarlomonniusC. carnevaleiA gobioid, potentially a member of the Butidae.C. quasigobiusEoapogonE. fraseriA cardinalfish.EosphaeramiaE. pygopterusA cardinalfish.LeptolumamiaL. vetulaMonte PostaleA cardinalfish.
Blenniiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesChiarachromisC. salazzariiA damselfish.LorenzichthysL. olihanA damselfish.PalaeopomacentrusP. orphaeA damselfish.SorbinichromisS. francescoiA damselfish.
Atheriniformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImages"Atherina""A." macrocephalaAn Old World silverside.LatellagnathusL. teruzziiA mesogasterid.MesogasterM. sphyraenoidesA mesogasterid.RhamphognathusR. paralepoidesA rhamphognathid.
Beloniformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImages"Engraulis"E. evolansA flying fish.HemiramphusH. edwardsiA halfbeak.RhamphexocoetusR. volansA flying fish.
Carangiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesAmphistiumA. paradoxumPesciaraAn amphistiid flatfish.BlochiusB. longirostrisA blochiid billfish.B. macropterusCeratoichthysC. pinnatiformisA bizarre carangid.DuctorD. vesternaeA ductorid.EastmanalepesE. primaevusA carangid.EobothusE. minutusPesciaraA flatfish of uncertain affinities.EolatesE. gracilisA lates perch.HeteronectesH. chanetiMonte PostaleA potentially amphistiid flatfish.LichiaL. veronensisA relative of the leerfish.MeneM. oblongaA moonfish.M. rhombeaPalaeorhynchusP. zorziniA palaeorhynchid billfish.ParatrachinotusP. tenuicepsA carangid.SeriolaS. priscaA relative of amberjacks.SphyraenaS. bolcensisA barracuda.TrachicaranxT. pleuronectiformisA carangid.VomeropsisV. triurusA carangid.
Syngnathiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesAeoliscoidesA. longirostrisA shrimpfish.AulorhamphusA. bolcensisAn aulorhamphid.A. capelliniiA. chiarasorbiniaeAulostomoidesA. tyleriAn indeterminate aulostomoid.CalamostomaC. breviculumA relative of the ghost pipefish.EoaulostomusE. bolcensisA relative of the trumpetfish.E. gracilisFistularioidesF. phyllolepisA fistularioidid.F. veronensisGilmourellaG. minutaPesciaraA callonymoid.JungersenichthysJ. elongatusA relative of the trumpetfish.MacraulostomusM. veronensisA relative of the trumpetfish.ParaeoliscusP. robinetaeA paraeoliscid.ParamphisileP. weleriA shrimpfish.ParasynarcualisP. longirostrisA parasynarcualid.PesciarhamphusP. carnevaleiAn aulorhamphid.ProsolenostomusP. lessiniiA pipefish.PseudosyngnathusP. opisthopterusA fistularioidid.PterygocephalusP. paradoxusA relative of the flying gurnards.RhamphosusR. biserratusPesciaraA rhamphosid.R. blotiR. brevirostrisR. longispinatusR. rastrumR. tubulirostrisSolenorhynchusS. elegansA relative of the ghost pipefish."Syngnathus""S." bolcensisA pipefish."S." heckeliSynhypuralisS. banisteriA relative of the trumpetfish.S. jungerseniTyleriaT. necopinataA relative of the trumpetfish.UrosphenU. dubiusA urosphenid.VeronarhamphusV. canossaeAn aulorhamphid.
Scombriformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesAuxidesA. propterygiusA scombrid.CarangopsisC. brevisA relative of bluefish.C. dorsalisGodsiliaG. lanceolataA scombrid.PseudauxidesP. speciosusA scombrid.]ThunnoscomberoidesT. bolcensisA scombrid.VeronaphlegesV. brunaeA euzaphlegid.]ZorziniaZ. postalensisMonte PostaleA medusafish.
Labriformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesBellwoodilabrusB. landiniiA wrasse.EocorisE. blotiA wrasse."Labrus""L." merula (="L." valenciennesi)A labroid of uncertain affinities.LabrobolcusL. giorgioiPesciaraA wrasse.ParalabrusP. rossiaePesciaraA presumed wrasse.PhyllopharyngodonP. longipinnisA wrasse related to hogfish and tuskfishes.SorbiniaS. caudopunctataA labroid of uncertain affinities.ZorzinilabrusZ. furcatusPesciaraA wrasse.
Perciformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesScorpaenoidei indet.Monte PostaleA scorpionfish of uncertain affinities.
Acropomatiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesAcropomaA. lepidotumA lanternbelly.
Acanthuriformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesAbromastaA. microdonA seabream.AcanthonemusA. subaureusAn acanthonemid.AcanthopygaeusA. agassiziA relative of rabbitfish.AspesiganusA. margaritaeA relative of rabbitfish.AspesipercaA. ruffoiPossibly a mojarra.AcanthuroidesA. massalongoiA surgeonfish.AngioliniaA. mirabilisPesciaraA zanclid.ArchaephippusA. asperA spadefish."Dentex""D." microdonA seabream, "D." ventralis is a nomen dubium."D." ventralisEllaserrataE. monksiA seabream.EoantigoniaE. veronensisA boarfish.EoplataxE. papilioA spadefish.EoleiognathusE. dorsalisA ponyfish.EorandalliusE. elegansA surgeonfish.E. rectifronsEoscatophagusE. frontalisA scat.EozanclusE. brevirostrisA zanclid.FrigosorbiniaF. baldwinaeA surgeonfish.GazolaichthysG. vestenanovaeA surgeonfish.GoujetiaG. crassispinaA snapper.LehmanichthysL. lessiniensisA surgeonfish.LessiniaL. horrendaA snapper.L. sp.MassalongiusM. gazolaiA massalongiid.MetacanthurusM. veronensisA surgeonfish.MetaspisurusM. emmanueliA surgeonfish.OttavianiaO. leptacanthusA snapper.O. mariaePadovathurusP. gaudryiA surgeonfish.PesciarichthysP. punctatusA surgeonfish.ProacanthurusP. bonatoiA surgeonfish.P. elongatusP. ovalisP. tenuisPristigenysP. substriatusA bigeye.ProtozebrasomaP. blotiA surgeonfish.PseudosparnodusP. microstomusA seabream.PsettopsisP. subarcuatusA moonyfish.RuffoichthysR. bannikoviA relative of rabbitfish.R. spinosusSorbinithurusS. sorbiniiA surgeonfish.SparnodusS. elongatusA seabream.S. vulgarisTauichthysT. aspesaeA surgeonfish.T. padremeniniTylerichthysT. milaniA surgeonfish.T. nuchalisVeranichthysV. ventralisA snapper.ZaiaichthysZ. postalensisA moonyfish.Z. wattersi
Lophiiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesCarusoC. brachysomusA goosefish.EophryneE. barbutiiA frogfish.HistionotophorusH. bassaniiA handfish.NeilpeartiaN. ceratoiPesciaraA frogfish.OrrichthysO. longimanusA handfish.SharfiaS. mirabilisA goosefish.TarkusT. squireiA batfish.
Tetraodontiformes GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImagesBolcabalistesB. variiA bolcabalistid.EolactoriaE. sorbiniiA boxfish.EoplectusE. blotiAn eoplectid.EotetraodonE. pygmaeusA pufferfish.E. taverneiHeptadiodonH. echinusA porcupinefish.ProaracanaP. dubiaA deepwater boxfish.ProdiodonP. erinaceusA porcupinefish.P. tenuispinusProtacanthodesP. nimesensisA triplespine.P. omboniiProtobalistumP. imperialeA protobalistid.SpinacanthusS. cuneiformisA protobalistid.ZignoichthysZ. oblongusA zignoichthyid.ZignodonZ. fornasieroaeA porcupinefish.
Percomorpha incertae sedis