The Nyker Group is a group of
geological formation
A geological formation, or simply formation, is a body of rock having a consistent set of physical characteristics (lithology) that distinguishes it from adjacent bodies of rock, and which occupies a particular position in the layers of rock expo ...
s from the Early Cretaceous, about 146 to 140 million years ago. It is on the island of
Bornholm
Bornholm () is a List of islands of Denmark, Danish island in the Baltic Sea, to the east of the rest of Denmark, south of Sweden, northeast of Germany and north of Poland.
Strategically located, Bornholm has been fought over for centuries. I ...
,
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
. It includes the
Rabekke,
Robbedale and
Jydegaard Formation
The Jydegaard Formation (also spelled as 'Jydegård') is a geological formation dating to the Early Cretaceous, about 145–139 million years ago. It is on the island of Bornholm, Denmark. Vertebrate fossils have been found in the formation.
Fos ...
s.
Rabekke Formation
The Rabekke Formation is the lowermost formation of the Nyker Group. It dates to about 146 to 145 million years ago, at the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary. The formation has the significance of having the first
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...
n mammal, ''
Sunnyodon notleyi'', uncovered from it. Many crocodilomorphs and other vertebrates have been recovered from it.
[
]
Robbedale Formation
The Robbedale Formation is the middle formation of the Nyker Group. It dates to about 145 million years ago. No vertebrate fossils have been recovered from the formation.[
]
Jydegaard Formation
The Jydegaard Formation is the uppermost formation of the Nyker Group. It dates to around 145 to 140 million years ago. The first dinosaur found on Denmark, ''Dromaeosauroides
''Dromaeosauroides'' is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of what is now Denmark and possibly also England. It was discovered in the Jydegaard Formation in the Robbedale valley, on the island of Bornholm in th ...
bornholmensis'', was discovered in this formation.[ Many vertebrates have been recovered from it.][Milàn, J.; Rasmussen, B.W.; Bonde, N. (2012) "Coprolites with prey remains from coprophagous organisms from the Lower Cretaceous (Late Berriasian) Jydegaard Formation of Bornholm, Denmark". ''New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Bulletin'' 57: 235-240]
See also
* List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Denmark
References
{{reflist
Geologic groups of Europe
Geologic formations of Denmark
Lower Cretaceous Series of Europe
Cretaceous Denmark
Jurassic System of Europe
Jurassic Denmark
Berriasian Stage
Tithonian Stage
Paleontology in Denmark