Coordinates: 23°12′N 80°00′E / 23.2°N 80.0°E / 23.2; 80.0

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
CoordinatesLua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Approximate paleocoordinatesLua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
RegionWestern India
CountryIndia
ExtentMadhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
Type section
Named forLameta Ghat

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

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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

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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

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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

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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
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

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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 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]

Sauropods

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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 the skull, hindlimb, and foot bones, are unknown. A lithostrotian titanosaur.
File:Isisaurus DB.jpg
Isisaurus
Jainosaurus
Megaloolithus
Jainosaurus J. septentrionalis Bara Simla "Basicranium and partial postcranial skeleton."[17] A titanosaur
Titanosaurus T. blanfordi
  • Panchgaon
  • Pisdura Hill
 Caudal vertebrae.[18] A dubious genus of titanosaur.[19]
T. indicus Pisdura Hill Teeths, Caudal vertebrae and chevron.[20]
Megaloolithus[21] 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[22] Indeterminate Ukala. Dorsal vertebrae, parts of the ilia and pelvis, and limb bones. A titanosauriform.

Theropods

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Abelisaurs
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Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Abelisauroidea Indeterminate Multiple specimens.[23] Could be referred to Abelisauridae or Noasauridae.[24]
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.[23]
Compsosuchus C. solus Bara Simla "Vertebrae" Previously considered a Noasaurid now considered an indeterminate Abelisaurid[25]
Indosaurus I. matleyi Bara Simla Partial skeleton, including a partial skull.[26] An abelisaurid
Dryptosauroides D. grandis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."[27] An abelisaurd
Ellipsoolithus[28] E. khedaensis Kheda Eggs Theropod egg fossils.
Indosuchus I. raptorius Bara Simla Cranial remains, including two braincases, as well as a nearly complete skeleton.[26] An abelisaurid
Ornithomimoides O. barasimlensis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."[27] An abelisaurid[29]
O. mobilis Bara Simla "Vertebrae"[27]
Orthogoniosaurus O. matleyi Bara Simla "Tooth"[27] An abelisaurid[30]
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
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Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Laevisuchus L. indicus Bara Simla Only vertebrae.[26] A noasaurid.
Noasaurinae Indeterminate Pisdura Hill A partial dentary.[29] A noasaurine noasaurid.
Noasauridae Indeterminate Multiple specimens.[23] May include femora from very large individuals.[24]
Other Theropods
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Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Coeluroides C. largus Bara Simla "Isolated vertebrae."[27] A Indeterminate theropod also known from Dabrazhin Formation of Kazakhstan
Jubbulpuria J. tenuis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."[27] Likely junior synonym of Laevisuchus[29]
?Megalosaurus Referred to as the 'E' morphotype Rahioli A solitary tooth.[31] Originally identified as belonging to Megalosaurus, however may instead represent a troodontid.[32]
Ornithomimidae?[33] 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.[23]
Trachoolithus[34] T. faticanus Bara Simla Eggs. Theropod egg fossils.

Indeterminate or chimaeric taxa

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Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
"Dubeynarainsaurus" "D. sahni" Sirolkhal "Partial dentary with associated teeth."[35] 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."[27] "Sacrum, ilia, tibia, spines, armor."[37] 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

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Snakes

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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

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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

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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

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

Mollusca

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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

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References

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  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
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  6. ^ Weishampel et al., 2004, pp.517-606
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  9. ^ "Table 17.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 367.
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  13. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  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. ^ Wilson, J.A.; Malkani, M. S.; Gingerich, P. D. 2004. A Sauropod Braincase from the Pab Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) of Balochistan, Pakistan. Gondwana Geological Magazine, Special Volume 8:101-109.
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  17. ^ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 269.
  18. ^ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 270.
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  20. ^ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 271.
  21. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  26. ^ a b c "Table 3.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 49.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g "Table 3.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 50.
  28. ^ 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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  33. ^ Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
  34. ^ Trachoolithus in the Paleobiology Database
  35. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  37. ^ "Table 17.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 368.
  38. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  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. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  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. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Bibliography

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  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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