hopping mammal (of the leptictid family) Propalaeotherium, an early relative of horses Ailuravus, a rodent Peradectes, a metatherian Palaeochiropteryx, a bat Lesmesodon, a small hyaenodontid Eomanis, an early pangolin Eurotamandua, a scaleless, anteater-like pangolin Europolemur, a primate Hyrachyus, ancestor of rhinoceroses Paroodectes, an early carnivorous mammal Messelogale, an early carnivorous mammal Pholidocercus, an early hedgehog Macrocranion, an early long-tailed hedgehog Masillamys, an early rodent Messelobunodon, an early artiodactyl Godinotia, an early primate Buxolestes, a semiaquatic, otter-like cimolestan Birds Palaeotis, an early struthionid Strigogyps sapea (formerly Aenigmavis) a cariamiform Eocoracias, an early coraciiform with known coloration Messelornis, the Messel-bird; a species of gruiform Masillastega, a freshwater sulid Lapillavis, a possible trogonid relative Cypseloramphus, a basal apodiform The Messelasturidae (Messelastur and Tynskya), carnivorous relatives of modern parrots Palaeoglaux, an early owl with enigmatic breast feathers Paraprefica, an early potoo Paraortygoides, a galliform Masillaraptor, an early falconiform Parargornis, an early apodiform Messelirrisor, a tiny bucerotiform closely related to hoopoes and wood-hoopoes Selmes (an anagram of "Messel"), a mousebird with stubby toes Gastornis (formerly Diatryma), a large, flightless anseriform Hassiavis, a member of Cypselomorphae Quasisyndactylus, a member of Alcediniformes Vanolimicola, a possible charadriiform A currently unnamed lithornithid, a sandpiper-like paleognath, the first record of its kind in Middle Eocene Europe. Reptiles Asiatosuchus, a large crocodile Diplocynodon, an alligator Hassiacosuchus, a durophagous alligator Bergisuchus, a sebecosuchian crocodiliform Eoconstrictor, 2-m snakes related to Neotropical boas, Boinae Messelophis, a tiny, live-bearing or viviparous boa Messelopython, the oldest known relative of pythons Cryptolacerta, a lizard with affinities to amphisbaenians Geiseltaliellus, a lizard with affinities to Corytophaninae Allaeochelys crassesculpta, aquatic turtles related to Carettochelys Fish A bowfin, variously described as Amia (the modern genus) or Cyclurus Amphiperca, an early perch Palaeoperca, another early perch Atractosteus, a gar eel Insects Hemiptera Wedelphus dichopteroides Hymenoptera Casaleia eocenica Cephalopone – Cephalopone grandis and Cephalopone potens Cyrtopone – Cyrtopone curiosa, Cyrtopone elongata, Cyrtopone microcephala, and Cyrtopone striata Gesomyrmex pulcher Messelepone leptogenoides Pachycondyla eocenica Pachycondyla lutzi Pachycondyla? messeliana Pachycondyla parvula Pachycondyla petiolosa Pachycondyla petrosa Protopone – Protopone? dubia, Protopone germanica, Protopone magna, Protopone oculata, Protopone sepulta, and Protopone vetula Pseudectatomma – Pseudectatomma eocenica and Pseudectatomma striatula Titanomyrma gigantea Titanomyrma simillima IUGS geological heritage site Describing the Messel Pit Fossil Site as 'richest geosite in the world for understanding the living environment of the Eocene, as it includes exceptionally well-preserved fossils', the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) included the site's Eocene record in its