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We describe four complete specimens of the early squid-like cephalopod Clarkeiteuthis conocauda from the Toarcian Posidonienschiefer (Jurassic) each preserved with the bony fish Leptolepis bronni in its arms. Based on the arrangement of prey and predator, we suggest that the cephalopods caught and killed the fishes while still in well-oxygenated waters and then descended into oxygen-depleted water layers (distraction sinking) where the cephalopod suffocated. This explains the exceptional preservation, for which the Posidonienschiefer is famed. This association raises the question for the hunting behaviour of belemnoid Coleoidea. Using the proportions of soft and skeletal body parts of diplobelids and belemnitids, we estimated their body mass and buoyancy and determined the centres of mass and buoyancy. These two points were very close to each other in belemnitids, implying a low hydrodynamic stability (when ignoring the fins), while in diplobelids, the distance between those centres was greater. This suggests that diplobelids usually assumed an oblique to vertical orientation of the body axis while belemnitids could effortlessly achieve a horizontal orientation of their body. Presuming larger fins were attached to the bigger belemnitid rostra, belemnitids were better swimmers and perhaps pursuit predators while diplobelids rather ambushed their prey.

A Speiballen (regurgitated compacted mass of indigestible stomach contents) from the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale of Ohmden, South Germany contains remains of four specimens of the actinopterygian Dapedium sp., the specific identity of which remains obscure, and a lower jaw of a specimen identified as Lepidotes sp. A list of five suitable characters is proposed to distinguish fossil Speiballen containing specimens from other vertebrate fossils. Large, potentially piscivorous animals in the Posidonia Shale ecosystem comprise chondrichthyans (Hybodus), other actinopterygians (pachycormiforms) and marine reptiles (crocodilians, ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs). Only juvenile ichthyosaurs (Stenopterygius) are known to have preyed on Dapedium. Available data are, however, insufficient to clearly identify the Speiballen producer. The heavy scale armour of basal neopterygians such as Dapedium undoubtedly hampered digestion of these fishes and in this way provided additional protection against predators.

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