Earth:Lameta Formation

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Lameta Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian
~70–66 Ma
↓
File:Lameta Formation.tif
Exposure of the Lameta Formation at its type locality of Lameta
TypeGeological formation
UnderliesIntertrappean Beds, Deccan Traps deposits
OverliesJabalpur Group or Precambrian Basement
Area5,000 km2 (1,900 sq mi)
ThicknessVariable, typically 18–45 m (59–148 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryClaystone, sandstone limestone
OtherConglomerate
Location
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 23°12′N 80°00′E / 23.2°N 80.0°E / 23.2; 80.0
Paleocoordinates [ ⚑ ] 24°42′S 63°12′E / 24.7°S 63.2°E / -24.7; 63.2
RegionWestern India
CountryIndia
ExtentMadhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
Type section
Named forLameta Ghat
Lameta Formation is located in India
Lameta Formation
Lameta Formation
Lameta Formation
Lameta Formation
Lameta Formation
Lameta Formation
Lameta Formation
Lameta Formation (India)

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

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

[[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|250px|left|thumb]] Template:Paleobiota-key-compact

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.
Jainosaurus J. septentrionalis Bara Simla "Basicranium and partial postcranial skeleton."[16] A titanosaur.
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
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]
Rajasaurus
Indosuchus
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,[34] proposed to be either belonging to the Infratrappean or Intertrappean beds, although if it were a pterosaur it would not be Maastrichtian.[35]
Lametasaurus L. indicus Bara Simla "Sacrum, ilia, tibia."[26] "Sacrum, ilia, tibia, spines, armor."[36] Includes crocodylomorph, titanosaur scutes and possibly ankylosaurian osteoderms.[8] Also includes abelisaurid material now removed from the type and is being assigned to the Rajasaurus.[3]

Reptiles

Snakes

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Madtsoia M. pisdurensis[37] Pidura Hill Upper A madtsoiid snake.
Sanajeh S. indicus Dholi Dungri A skull, precloaca vertebrae and ribs. A madtsoiid snake.
Sanajeh about to attack a titanosaur hatchling

Crocodylomorphs

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Dyrosauridae[38][13][39] 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[40][41] Indeterminate A turtle.

Mammals

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Avashishta A. bacharamensis[42] 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

  1. ↑ Wilson Mantilla, Gregory P.; Renne, Paul R.; Samant, Bandana; Mohabey, Dhananjay M.; Dhobale, Anup; Tholt, Andrew J.; Tobin, Thomas S.; Widdowson, Mike et al. (2022-04-01). "New mammals from the Naskal intertrappean site and the age of India's earliest eutherians". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 591. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2022.110857. ISSN 0031-0182. Bibcode: 2022PPP...59110857W. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003101822200027X. 
  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. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wilson, J. A.; Sereno, P. C.; Srivastava, S.; Bhatt, D. K.; Khosla, A.; Sahni, A. (2003). "A new abelisaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Lameta Formation (Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) of India". Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology University of Michigan 31 (1): 1–42. http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/48667/2/ID573.pdf. 
  4. ↑ Srivastava, Ashok K.; Mankar, Rupesh S. (January 2015). "Lithofacies architecture and depositional environment of Late Cretaceous Lameta Formation, central India" (in en). Arabian Journal of Geosciences 8 (1): 207–226. doi:10.1007/s12517-013-1192-y. ISSN 1866-7511. Bibcode: 2015ArJG....8..207S. http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12517-013-1192-y. 
  5. ↑ Kumari, Anjali; Singh, Seema; Khosla, Ashu (January 2021). "Palaeosols and palaeoclimate reconstruction of the Maastrichtian Lameta Formation, Central India" (in en). Cretaceous Research 117. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104632. Bibcode: 2021CrRes.11704632K. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0195667120303189. 
  6. ↑ Weishampel et al., 2004, pp.517-606
  7. ↑ Chatterjee, Sankar (2020), Prasad, Guntupalli V.R.; Patnaik, Rajeev, eds., "The Age of Dinosaurs in the Land of Gonds" (in en), Biological Consequences of Plate Tectonics: New Perspectives on Post-Gondwana Break-up–A Tribute to Ashok Sahni, Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology (Cham: Springer International Publishing): pp. 181–226, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-49753-8_8, ISBN 978-3-030-49753-8 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Rozadilla, Sebastián; Agnolín, Federico; Manabe, Makoto; Tsuihiji, Takanobu; Novas, Fernando E. (2021-09-01). "Ornithischian remains from the Chorrillo Formation (Upper Cretaceous), southern Patagonia, Argentina, and their implications on ornithischian paleobiogeography in the Southern Hemisphere". Cretaceous Research 125. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104881. ISSN 0195-6671. Bibcode: 2021CrRes.12504881R. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667121001282. 
  9. ↑ "Table 17.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 367.
  10. ↑ Dwivedi, G. N.; Ghevariya, Z. G. (1984). "Discovery of Dinosaurian Horncore from the Infra-Trappean Rocks of Kheda District, Gujarat". Current Science 53 (21): 1148–1150. ISSN 0011-3891. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24092279. 
  11. ↑ Lamanna, Matthew C.; Smith, Joshua B.; Attia, Yousry S.; Dodson, Peter (2004). "From Dinosaurs to Dyrosaurids (Crocodyliformes): Removal of the Post-Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous) Record of Ornithischia from Africa". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 24 (3): 764–768. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2004)024[0764:FDTDCR2.0.CO;2]. ISSN 0272-4634. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4524765. 
  12. ↑ Galton, Peter M.; Ayyasami, Krishnan (2017-07-01). "Purported latest bone of a plated dinosaur (Ornithischia: Stegosauria), a "dermal plate" from the Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) of southern India" (in en). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen 285 (1): 91–96. doi:10.1127/njgpa/2017/0671. ISSN 0077-7749. Bibcode: 2017NJGPA.285...91G. http://www.schweizerbart.de/papers/njgpa/detail/285/87654/Purported_latest_bone_of_a_plated_dinosaur_Ornithi?af=crossref. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Microvertebrates from the infratrappean beds of Rangareddi District, Andhra Pradesh and their biostratigraphic significance". https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291830875. 
  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.
  15. ↑ Khosla, Ashu; Lucas, Spencer G. (2020), "Indian Late Cretaceous Dinosaur Nesting Sites and Their Systematic Studies" (in en), Late Cretaceous Dinosaur Eggs and Eggshells of Peninsular India (Cham: Springer International Publishing) 51: pp. 117–205, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-56454-4_4, ISBN 978-3-030-56453-7, http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-030-56454-4_4, retrieved 2024-02-13 
  16. ↑ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 269.
  17. ↑ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 270.
  18. ↑ Wilson, Jeffrey A.; Upchurch, Paul (2003). "A revision ofTitanosaurusLydekker (dinosauria - sauropoda), the first dinosaur genus with a 'Gondwanan' distribution". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 1 (3): 125–160. doi:10.1017/s1477201903001044. ISSN 1477-2019. Bibcode: 2003JSPal...1..125W. 
  19. ↑ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 271.
  20. ↑ Khosla, Ashu; Lucas, Spencer G. (2020), "Discussion: Oospecies Diversity, Biomineralization Aspects, Taphonomical, Biostratigraphical, Palaeoenvironmental, Palaeoecological and Palaeobiogeographical Inferences of the Dinosaur-Bearing Lameta Formation of Peninsular India" (in en), Late Cretaceous Dinosaur Eggs and Eggshells of Peninsular India (Cham: Springer International Publishing) 51: pp. 207–271, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-56454-4_5, ISBN 978-3-030-56453-7, http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-030-56454-4_5, retrieved 2024-01-21 
  21. ↑ "Deccan Continental Flood Basalt Eruption Terminated Indian Dinosaurs before the Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary". https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263733418. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Novas, Fernando; Agnolin, Federico; Bandyopadhyay, Saswati (2004). "Cretaceous theropods from India: A review of specimens described by Huene and Matley (1933)". Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales: 67–103. doi:10.22179/REVMACN.6.74. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Ceratosauria". https://theropoddatabase.github.io/Ceratosauria.htm. 
  24. ↑ Mohabey, D. M.; Samant, B.; Vélez-Rosado, K. I.; Wilson Mantilla, J. A. (2024). "A review of small-bodied theropod dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous of India, with description of new cranial remains of a noasaurid (Theropoda: Abelisauria)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 43 (3): e2288088. doi:10.1080/02724634.2023.2288088. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 "Table 3.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 49.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 "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
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Mohabey, Dhananjay M.; Samant, Bandana; Vélez-Rosado, Kevin I.; Wilson Mantilla, Jeffrey A. (2024-02-07). "A review of small-bodied theropod dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous of India, with description of new cranial remains of a noasaurid (Theropoda: Abelisauria)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 43 (3). doi:10.1080/02724634.2023.2288088. ISSN 0272-4634. 
  29. ↑ "The history of dinosaur collecting in Central India, 1828-1947". https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230808666. 
  30. ↑ Mathur, U. B.; Srivastava, S. (1987-06-01). "Dinosaur Teeth from Lameta Group (Upper Cretaceous) of Kheda District, Gujarat" (in en). Journal Geological Society of India 29 (6): 554–566. doi:10.17491/jgsi/1987/290603. ISSN 0974-6889. Bibcode: 1987JGSI...29..554M. https://www.geosocindia.org/index.php/jgsi/article/view/67883. 
  31. ↑ "Troodontidae". https://theropoddatabase.github.io/Troodontidae.htm#Troodontidae. 
  32. ↑ Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
  33. ↑ Trachoolithus in the Paleobiology Database
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Dubey, V. S (October 1946). "A note on the occurrence of Pterosauria in India". Current Science 15 (10): 287–288. https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/15/10/0287.pdf. 
  35. ↑ Pentland, Adele H.; Poropat, Stephen F. (2023-07-01). "A review of the Jurassic and Cretaceous Gondwanan pterosaur record". Gondwana Research 119: 341–383. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2023.03.005. ISSN 1342-937X. Bibcode: 2023GondR.119..341P. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1342937X23000795. 
  36. ↑ "Table 17.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 368.
  37. ↑ Mohabey, D.M.; Head, J.J.; Wilson, J.A. (2011). "A new species of the snake Madtsoia from the Upper Cretaceous of India and its paleobiogeographic implications". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31 (3): 588–595. doi:10.1080/02724634.2011.560220. Bibcode: 2011JVPal..31..588M. 
  38. ↑ Rana, R. S. 1987. Dyrosaurid crocodile (Mesosuchia) from the infratrap pean beds of Vikarabad, Hyderabad District, Andhra-Pradesh. Cur rent Science 56:532-534
  39. ↑ Srivastava, Rahul; Patnaik, Rajeev; Shukla, U. K.; Sahni, Ashok (2015-12-07). "Crocodilian Nest in a Late Cretaceous Sauropod Hatchery from the Type Lameta Ghat Locality, Jabalpur, India" (in en). PLOS ONE 10 (12). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144369. ISSN 1932-6203. PMID 26641665. Bibcode: 2015PLoSO..1044369S. 
  40. ↑ D. M. Mohabey. 1990. Discovery of dinosaur nesting site in Maharashtra. Gondwana Geological Magazine 3:32-34.
  41. ↑ 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.
  42. ↑ Anantharaman, S.; Wilson, G. P.; Sarma, D. C. Das; Clemens, W. A. (2006). "A Possible Late Cretaceous "Haramiyidan" from India". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26 (2): 488–490. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[488:APLCHF2.0.CO;2]. ISSN 0272-4634. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4524590. 

Bibliography



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