Lameta Formation

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox Rockunit

The Lameta Formation, also known as the Infratrappean Beds (not to be confused with the contemporaneous Intertrappean Beds), is a sedimentary geological formation found in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, India, associated with the Deccan Traps.[1] It is of the Maastrichtian age (Late Cretaceous), and is notable for its dinosaur fossils.

History

The first fossils found in the Lameta Formation were discovered between 1917 and 1919.[2]

The Lameta Formation was first identified in 1981 by geologists working for the Geological Survey of India (GSI), G. N. Dwivedi and Dhananjay Mahendrakumar Mohabey, after being given limestone structures–later recognised as dinosaur eggs–by workers of the ACC Cement Quarry in the village of Rahioli near the city Balasinor in the Gujarat state of western India.[3]

Lithology

File:Rajasaurus en las traps del decán.jpg
Paleoart of the Deccan trap illustrating the paleoenvironment of Lameta formation

The formation is underlain by the Lower Cretaceous sedimentary "Upper Gondwana Sequence" also known as the Jabalpur Formation, and is overlain by the Deccan Traps basalt. The Lameta Formation is only exposed at the surface as small isolated outcrops associated with the Satpura Fault. The lithology of the formation, depending on the outcrop, consists of alternating clay, siltstone and sandstone facies, deposited in fluvial and lacustrine conditions. The environment at the time of deposition has alternatively been considered semi-arid, or tropical humid.[4][5]

Fossil content

Many dubious names have been created for isolated bones, but several genera of dinosaurs from these rocks are well-supported, including the titanosaur sauropods Isisaurus and Jainosaurus and the Abelisaurs Indosaurus, Indosuchus, and Rajasaurus and Noasaurids Laevisuchus.[6] Synapsids are also known form the formation, such as the possibly late surviving Avashishta,possibly the last known non- mammalian synapsid the possibly youngest known stegosaurian ichnogenus Deltapodus, madtsoiid snakes and other fossils.

Dinosaurs

File:Morning hunting in India.jpg
Dinosaurs of Lameta Formation in which a group of Rajasaurus (Middle) hunting an Isisaurus (Middle) with an Indosuchus (bottom left) watching it with her chicks and a Laevisuchus (Bottom right) running with two Jainosaurus (Top Left) in the background

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Ornithischians

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Ankylosauria? Indeterminate Rahioli Isolated vertebrae, scapulocoracoid, humerus, femur, and several armor fragments such as hollow lateral spikes and solid dorsal scutes.[7] Described as a nodosaurid, but the limb bones are titanosaurian.[8]
Brachypodosaurus B. gravis Chota Simla Hill "Humerus."[9] May not be dinosaurian
Ceratopsia? Indeterminate Kheda Horncore base. Originally described as a ceratopsian horncore,[10] but likely represents a theropod limb element or a dorsal rib of a theropod or a titanosauriform.[11]
Deltapodus[12] sp. Jetholi Solitary footprint. A Possible Late Cretaceous Stegosaur, Like Dravidosaurus.
Hypsilophodontidae?[13] Indeterminate. Vikarabad. Teeth. Hypsilophodontidae is not a natural grouping.
Ornithischia[14] Indeterminate Kheda Braincase. Indeterminate Ornithischian.
Spheroolithus? sp. Polgaon,

Tidkepar

Egg fossils. Questionably assigned to this genus[15]

Sauropods

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Isisaurus I. colberti Dongargaon Hill Holotype skeleton consists of cervical, dorsal, sacral, caudal vertebrae, ribs, pelvis, scapula, coracoid, left forelimb, and other bones. Other specimens such as skull, hindlimb, and foot bones are unknown. A titanosaur.
File:Isisaurus DB.jpg
Jainosaurus J. septentrionalis Bara Simla "Basicranium and partial postcranial skeleton."[16] A titanosaur.
File:Jainosaurus septentrionalis life restoration.png
Titanosaurus T. blanfordi
  • Panchgaon
  • Pisdura Hill
 Caudal vertebrae.[17] A dubious genus of titanosaur.[18]
T. blanfordi holotype distal caudal vertebra
T. blanfordi holotype distal caudal vertebra
T. indicus Pisdura Hill Teeths, Caudal vertebrae and chevron.[19]
T. indicus holotypic distal caudal vertebra
T. indicus holotypic distal caudal vertebra
Megaloolithus[20] M. cylindricus Chui Hill, Bara Simla, Nand region, Pavan, Ghorpend, Bagh Caves, Dhar, Indwan, Kadwal, Dholiya Raipuriya village, Akhada village, Jhaba village, Padlya village, Jhabua, Dohad, Jhalod, Garadi, Kheda, Rahioli, Dholi Dungri. Sauropod egg fossils
File:Fossils in the Indian Museum, Kolkata 13.jpg
M. dhoridungriensis
M. jabalpurensis
M. khempurensis
M. megadermus
M. problematica
M. walpurensis
M. sp.
Titanosauriform[21] Indeterminate Ukala. Dorsal vertebrae, parts of illia and pelvis and limb bones. A titanosauriform.

Theropods

Abelisaurs
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Abelisauroidea Indeterminate Multiple specimens.[22] Could be referred to Abelisauridae or Noasauridae.[23]
File:Rajasaurus restoration.jpg
Rajasaurus
File:Indosuchus.jpg
Indosuchus
File:Rahiolisaurus restoration.png
Rahiolisaurus
Abelisauridae Indeterminate Multiple specimens. Include form similar to Majungasaurus and forms similar to Carnotaurus.[22]
Compsosuchus C. solus Bara Simla "Vertebrae" Previously considered a Noasaurid now considered an indeterminate Abelisaurid[24]
Indosaurus I. matleyi Bara Simla Partial skeleton, including a partial skull.[25] An abelisaur.
Dryptosauroides D. grandis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."[26]
Ellipsoolithus[27] E. khedaensis Kheda Eggs Theropod egg fossils.
Indosuchus I. raptorius Bara Simla Cranial remains, including two braincases, as well as a nearly complete skeleton.[25] An abelisaur.
Ornithomimoides O. barasimlensis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."[26] An abelisaurid[28]
O. mobilis Bara Simla "Vertebrae"[26]
Orthogoniosaurus O. matleyi Bara Simla "Tooth"[26] An abelisaurid.[29]
Rahiolisaurus R. gujaratensis Rahioli Village Cervical, dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, portions of pectoral and pelvic girdles, and several hind limb bones of different individuals. An abelisaurid.
Rajasaurus R. narmadensis Temple Hill, Rahioli A partial skeleton consists of maxillae, premaxillae, braincase, and quadrate bone on the skull; and spine, hip bone, legs, and tail in post-cranial remains. An abelisaurid.
Noasaurids
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Laevisuchus L. indicus Bara Simla Only vertebrae.[25] A noasaurid.
Noasaurinae Indeterminate Pisdura Hill A partial dentary.[28] A noasaurine noasaurid.
Noasauridae Indeterminate Multiple specimens.[22] May include femora from very large individuals.[23]
Other Theropods
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Coeluroides C. largus Bara Simla "Isolated vertebrae."[26] A Indeterminate theropod also known from Dabrazhin Formation of Kazakhstan
Jubbulpuria J. tenuis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."[26] Likely junior synonym of Laevisuchus[28]
?Megalosaurus Referred to as the 'E' morphotype Rahioli A solitary tooth.[30] Originally identified as belonging to Megalosaurus, however may instead represent a troodontid.[31]
Ornithomimidae?[32] Indeterminate Bara Simla Ceratosaurian taxa from the Lameta Formation have been erroneously referred to ornithomimdae.
Theropoda Indeterminate Cervical vertebra. Initially described as allosauroid. Not an abelisaurid, possibly representing a member of a clade outside of abelisauroidea.[22]
Trachoolithus[33] T. faticanus Bara Simla Eggs. Theropod egg fossils.

Indeterminate or chimaeric taxa

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
"Dubeynarainsaurus" "D. sahni" Sirolkhal "Partial dentary with associated teeth."[34] May instead be a later cretaceous pterosaur,[35] proposed to be either belonging to the Infratrappean or Intertrappean beds, although if it were a pterosaur it would not be Maastrichtian.[36] File:Dubeynarainsaurus holotype.png
Lametasaurus L. indicus Bara Simla "Sacrum, ilia, tibia."[26] "Sacrum, ilia, tibia, spines, armor."[37] Includes crocodylomorph, titanosaur and possibly ankylosaur material.[8] Also includes abelisaurid material now removed from the type.[3]

Reptiles

Snakes

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Madtsoia M. pisdurensis[38] Pidura Hill Upper A madtsoiid snake.
Sanajeh S. indicus Dholi Dungri A skull, precloaca vertebrae and ribs. A madtsoiid snake.
File:Sanajeh attacking sauropod.png
Sanajeh about to attack a titanosaur hatchling

Crocodylomorphs

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Dyrosauridae[39][13][40] Indeterminate. Kisalpuri and Vikarabad. Vertebrae, eggs and teeth. Non-Phosphatosaurinae Dyrosaurid Crocodylomorphs.

Turtles

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Jainemys J. pisdurensis Pisdura hill A bothremydid side-necked turtle.
Pelomedusidae[41][42] Indeterminate A turtle.

Mammals

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Avashishta A. bacharamensis[43] Bacharam A Haramiyida Mammal.

Mollusca

Genus Species Location Notes
Mollusca Indeterminate
Gastropoda Indeterminate
Viviparus V. normalis
Physa P. sp.
Paludina P. deccanensis
Lymnaea L. subulata
Unio U. sp.

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ F. v. Huene and C. A. Matley, (1933), "The Cretaceous Saurischia and Ornithischia of the Central Provinces of India", Palaeontologica Indica (New Series), Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India 21(1): 1-74
  3. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Weishampel et al., 2004, pp.517-606
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ "Table 17.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 367.
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291830875_Microvertebrates_from_the_infratrappean_beds_of_Rangareddi_District_Andhra_Pradesh_and_their_biostratigraphic_significance Template:Bare URL inline
  14. ↑ D. M. Mohabey. 1989. The braincase of a dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Lameta Formation, Kheda District, Gujarat, western India. Indian Journal of Earth Sciences 16(2):132-135.
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  16. ↑ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 269.
  17. ↑ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 270.
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 271.
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263733418_Deccan_Continental_Flood_Basalt_Eruption_Terminated_Indian_Dinosaurs_before_the_Cretaceous-Paleogene_Boundary Template:Bare URL inline
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  23. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b c "Table 3.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 49.
  26. ↑ a b c d e f g "Table 3.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 50.
  27. ↑ D. M. Mohabey. 1998. Systematics of Indian Upper Cretaceous dinosaur and chelonian eggshells. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 18(2):348-362
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  29. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230808666_The_history_of_dinosaur_collecting_in_Central_India_1828-1947
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
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  32. ↑ Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
  33. ↑ Trachoolithus in the Paleobiology Database
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ "Table 17.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 368.
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Rana, R. S. 1987. Dyrosaurid crocodile (Mesosuchia) from the infratrap pean beds of Vikarabad, Hyderabad District, Andhra-Pradesh. Cur rent Science 56:532-534
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ D. M. Mohabey. 1990. Discovery of dinosaur nesting site in Maharashtra. Gondwana Geological Magazine 3:32-34.
  42. ↑ S. L. Jain and A. Sahni. 1983. Some Upper Cretaceous vertebrates from central India and their palaeogeographic implications. In H. K. Maheshwari (ed.), Proceedings of the Symposium on "Cretaceous of India: Palaeoecology, Palaeogeography and Time Boundaries", Lucknow. Indian Association of Palynostratigraphers 66-83.
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".

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Bibliography

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