Lameta Formation

Geologic formation in India From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

UnderliesIntertrappean Beds, Deccan Traps deposits
OverliesJabalpur Group or Precambrian Basement
Area5,000 km2 (1,900 sq mi)
Quick facts Type, Underlies ...
Lameta Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian
~70–66 Ma
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
Coordinates23.2°N 80.0°E / 23.2; 80.0
Approximate paleocoordinates24.7°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)
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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 the Noasaurids Laevisuchus and ‘’Jubbulpuria’’..[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
Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Ornithischians

More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
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 GSI/GC/2905 Originally identified as an indeterminate ornithischian braincase. Later found out to be a Titanosaur dorsal vertebra.[15]
Spheroolithus? sp. Polgaon,

Tidkepar

Egg fossils. Questionably assigned to this genus[16]
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Sauropods

More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
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 the skull, hindlimb, and foot bones, are unknown. A lithostrotian titanosaur.
Isisaurus
Jainosaurus
Megaloolithus
Jainosaurus J. septentrionalis Bara Simla "Basicranium and partial postcranial skeleton."[17] A titanosaur
J. cf. septentrionalis Chhota Simla Partial skeleton including a rib fragrement, caudal centrum, humeri, radius and an articulated left limb.[18]
Titanosaurus T. blanfordi
  • Panchgaon
  • Pisdura Hill
Caudal vertebrae.[19] A dubious genus of titanosaur.[20]
T. indicus Pisdura Hill Caudal Vertebrae, two partial rami of haemapophysis, partial left tibia, partial right fibula, and a partial referred femur.[2]
T.? rahioliensis[21] Rahioli Village About 34 teeth in total. Might not belong to this genus.
Megaloolithus[22] 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. Multiple specimens consist of fossilized egg shells that are covered in volcanic sediments Sauropod egg fossils
M. dhoridungriensis
M. jabalpurensis
M. khempurensis
M. megadermus
M. problematica
M. walpurensis
M. sp.
Titanosauriform[23] Indeterminate Ukala. Dorsal vertebrae, parts of the ilia and pelvis, and limb bones. A titanosauriform.
Sauropoda[24] indeterminate Rahioli Several Humeri The humeri ranges from 70 to 85 cm in length, they have gracility index that ranges from 73 to 78.
Titanosauria[25] indeterminate Temple Hill, Rahioli disarticulated remains. Discovered alongside the Rajasaurus holotype.
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Theropods

Abelisaurs
More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Abelisauroidea Indeterminate Multiple specimens.[26] Could be referred to Abelisauridae or Noasauridae.[27]
Rajasaurus
Indosuchus
Rahiolisaurus
Abelisauridae Indeterminate Multiple specimens. Include form similar to Majungasaurus and forms similar to Carnotaurus.[26]
Compsosuchus C. solus Bara Simla "Vertebrae" Previously considered a Noasaurid now considered an indeterminate Abelisaurid[28]
Indosaurus I. matleyi Bara Simla Partial skeleton, including a partial skull.[29] An abelisaurid
Dryptosauroides D. grandis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."[30] An abelisaurd
Ellipsoolithus[31] E. khedaensis Kheda Eggs Theropod egg fossils.
Indosuchus I. raptorius Bara Simla Cranial remains, including two braincases, as well as a nearly complete skeleton.[29] An abelisaurid
Ornithomimoides O. barasimlensis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."[30] An abelisaurid[32]
O. mobilis Bara Simla "Vertebrae"[30]
Orthogoniosaurus O. matleyi Bara Simla "Tooth"[30] An abelisaurid[33]
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
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Noasaurids
More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Laevisuchus L. indicus Bara Simla Only vertebrae.[29] A noasaurid.
Noasaurinae Indeterminate Pisdura Hill A partial dentary.[32] A noasaurine noasaurid.
Noasauridae Indeterminate Multiple specimens.[26] May include femora from very large individuals.[27]
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Other Theropods
More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Coeluroides C. largus Bara Simla "Isolated vertebrae."[30] A Indeterminate theropod also known from Dabrazhin Formation of Kazakhstan
Jubbulpuria J. tenuis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."[30] Likely junior synonym of Laevisuchus[32]
?Megalosaurus Type A-E Rahioli Several teeth [21] The overall length of the teeths ranges from 0.7 to 6 cm, all were originally identified as belonging to Megalosaurus,(beside GSI Type No. 19988 as it was identified as a Majungasaurus tooth).[21] However a specimen(GSI Type No. 19996) may instead represent a troodontid.[34]
Ornithomimidae?[35] Indeterminate Bara Simla Ceratosaurian taxa from the Lameta Formation have been erroneously referred to ornithomimdae.
Theropoda Indeterminate GSI K27/572, fragmentary cervical vertebra. Initially described as allosauroid. But the researchers didn't classify it as an abelisaurid, possibly representing a member of a clade outside of abelisauroidea, the preserved height of the vertebra is 16 cm.[26]
Trachoolithus[36] T. faticanus Bara Simla Eggs. Theropod egg fossils.
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Indeterminate or chimaeric taxa

More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
"Dubeynarainsaurus" "D. sahni" Sirolkhal "Partial dentary with associated teeth."[37] May instead be a later cretaceous pterosaur,[37] proposed to be either belonging to the Infratrappean or Intertrappean beds, although if it were a pterosaur it would not be Maastrichtian.[38]
Lametasaurus L. indicus Bara Simla "Sacrum, ilia, tibia."[30] "Sacrum, ilia, tibia, spines, armor."[39] 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]
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Reptiles

Snakes

More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Madtsoia M. pisdurensis[40] 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
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Crocodylomorphs

More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Dyrosauridae[41][13][42] Indeterminate. Kisalpuri and Vikarabad. Vertebrae, eggs and teeth. Non-Phosphatosaurinae Dyrosaurid Crocodylomorphs.
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Turtles

More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Jainemys J. pisdurensis Pisdura hill A bothremydid side-necked turtle.
Pelomedusidae[43][44] Indeterminate A turtle.
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Mammals

More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Avashishta A. bacharamensis[45] Bacharam A Haramiyida Mammal.
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Mollusca

More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationNotes
Mollusca Indeterminate
Gastropoda Indeterminate
Viviparus V. normalis
Physa P. sp.
Paludina P. deccanensis
Lymnaea L. subulata
Unio U. sp.
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See also

References

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