Lameta Formation
{{short description|Geologic formation in India}}
{{Infobox Rockunit
| name = Lameta Formation
| image =Lameta Formation.tif
| caption =Exposure of the Lameta Formation at its type locality of Lameta
| type = Geological formation
| age = Maastrichtian
~{{fossilrange|70|66}}
| period = Maastrichtian
| prilithology = Claystone, sandstone limestone
| otherlithology = Conglomerate
| namedby =
| region = Western India
| country = India
| coordinates = {{coord|23.2|N|80.0|E|display=inline,title}}
| paleocoordinates = {{coord|24.7|S|63.2|E|display=inline}}
| unitof =
| subunits =
| underlies = Intertrappean Beds, Deccan Traps deposits
| overlies = Jabalpur Group or Precambrian Basement
| thickness = Variable, typically {{convert|18|-|45|m|abbr=on}}
| extent = Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
| area = {{convert|5000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| map = {{Location map+ | India
| relief = 1
| width = 250
| float = center
| places =
{{Location map~ | India
| lat_deg = 23.2
| lon_deg = 80.0
| mark = Lightgreen pog.svg
| marksize = 10
}}
{{Location map~ | India
| lat_deg = 23.05
| lon_deg = 73.3
| mark = Lightgreen pog.svg
| marksize = 10
}}
{{Location map~ | India
| lat_deg = 22.4
| lon_deg = 75.2
| mark = Lightgreen pog.svg
| marksize = 10
}}
{{Location map~ | India
| lat_deg = 17.4
| lon_deg = 77.7
| mark = Lightgreen pog.svg
| marksize = 10
}}
{{Location map~ | India
| lat_deg = 20.3
| lon_deg = 79.05
| mark = Lightgreen pog.svg
| marksize = 10
}}
{{Location map~ | India
| lat_deg = 21.4
| lon_deg = 78
| mark = Lightgreen pog.svg
| marksize = 10
}}
{{Location map~ | India
| lat_deg = 23.5
| lon_deg = 81.56
| mark = Lightgreen pog.svg
| marksize = 10
}}
}}
| map_caption =
| namedfor = Lameta 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.{{Cite journal |last1=Wilson Mantilla |first1=Gregory P. |last2=Renne |first2=Paul R. |last3=Samant |first3=Bandana |last4=Mohabey |first4=Dhananjay M. |last5=Dhobale |first5=Anup |last6=Tholt |first6=Andrew J. |last7=Tobin |first7=Thomas S. |last8=Widdowson |first8=Mike |last9=Anantharaman |first9=S. |last10=Dassarma |first10=Dilip Chandra |last11=Wilson Mantilla |first11=Jeffrey A. |date=2022-04-01 |title=New mammals from the Naskal intertrappean site and the age of India's earliest eutherians |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003101822200027X |journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology |volume=591 |pages=110857 |doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2022.110857 |bibcode=2022PPP...59110857W |issn=0031-0182|url-access=subscription }} 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.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
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.{{cite journal |last1=Wilson |first1=J. A. |author-link1=Jeffrey A. Wilson |last2=Sereno |first2=P. C. |author-link2=Paul Sereno |last3=Srivastava |first3=S. |last4=Bhatt |first4=D. K. |last5=Khosla |first5=A. |last6=Sahni |first6=A. |year=2003 |title=A new abelisaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Lameta Formation (Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) of India |url=http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/48667/2/ID573.pdf |journal=Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology University of Michigan |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=1–42}}
Lithology
File:Rajasaurus en las traps del decán.jpg 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.{{Cite journal|last1=Srivastava|first1=Ashok K.|last2=Mankar|first2=Rupesh S.|date=January 2015|title=Lithofacies architecture and depositional environment of Late Cretaceous Lameta Formation, central India|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12517-013-1192-y|journal=Arabian Journal of Geosciences|language=en|volume=8|issue=1|pages=207–226|doi=10.1007/s12517-013-1192-y|bibcode=2015ArJG....8..207S |s2cid=67851941 |issn=1866-7511|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite journal|last1=Kumari|first1=Anjali|last2=Singh|first2=Seema|last3=Khosla|first3=Ashu|date=January 2021|title=Palaeosols and palaeoclimate reconstruction of the Maastrichtian Lameta Formation, Central India|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0195667120303189|journal=Cretaceous Research|language=en|volume=117|pages=104632|doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104632|bibcode=2021CrRes.11704632K |s2cid=224946979 |url-access=subscription}}
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.Weishampel et al., 2004, pp.517-606 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]]
{{Paleobiota-key-compact}}
== Ornithischians ==
== Sauropods ==
== Theropods ==
=== Abelisaurs ===
class="wikitable" align="center" | ||||||
Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abelisauroidea
|Indeterminate | | |Could be referred to Abelisauridae or Noasauridae. | rowspan = 100|File:Rajasaurus restoration.jpg]]File:Indosuchus.jpg]]File:Rahiolisaurus restoration.png]] | ||||||
Abelisauridae
|Indeterminate | | |Multiple specimens. |Include form similar to Majungasaurus and forms similar to Carnotaurus.https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/76ad/66ba5a640885c8618ddca6e6d7574800b174.pdf | ||||||
style="background:#fbdddb;"|Compsosuchus
| style="background:#fbdddb;"|C. solus | style="background:#fbdddb;"|Bara Simla | style="background:#fbdddb;"| | style="background:#fbdddb;"|"Vertebrae" | style="background:#fbdddb;"|Previously considered a Noasaurid now considered an indeterminate Abelisaurid{{Cite journal |last1=Mohabey |first1=D. M. |last2=Samant |first2=B. |last3=Vélez-Rosado |first3=K. I. |last4=Wilson Mantilla |first4=J. A. |year=2024 |title=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=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=43 |issue=3 |at=e2288088 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2023.2288088 }} | ||||||
style="background:#E6E6E6;
| I. matleyi | Bara Simla | | Partial skeleton, including a partial skull. | An abelisaur. | ||||||
style="background:#E6E6E6;"| Dryptosauroides
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"| D. grandis |style="background:#E6E6E6;"| Bara Simla |style="background:#E6E6E6;"| |style="background:#E6E6E6;"| "Vertebrae." |style="background:#E6E6E6;"| | ||||||
style="background:#E3F5FF;" | ||||||
EllipsoolithusD. M. Mohabey. 1998. Systematics of Indian Upper Cretaceous dinosaur and chelonian eggshells. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 18(2):348-362
|E. khedaensis |Kheda | |Eggs |Theropod egg fossils. | ||||||
Indosuchus
| I. raptorius | Bara Simla | | Cranial remains, including two braincases, as well as a nearly complete skeleton. | An abelisaur. | ||||||
style="background:#E6E6E6;
| rowspan="2" | Ornithomimoides | O. barasimlensis | Bara Simla | | ||||||
style="background:#E6E6E6;
| O. mobilis | Bara Simla | | ||||||
Orthogoniosaurus
| O. matleyi | Bara Simla | | An abelisaurid.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230808666_The_history_of_dinosaur_collecting_in_Central_India_1828-1947 | ||||||
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 ===
class="wikitable" align="center" | ||||||
Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laevisuchus
| L. indicus | Bara Simla | | Only vertebrae."Table 3.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 49. | A noasaurid. | | ||||||
Noasaurinae
|Indeterminate |Pisdura Hill | | | ||||||
Noasauridae
|Indeterminate | | |May include femora from very large individuals.https://theropoddatabase.github.io/Ceratosauria.htm | |
=== Other Theropods ===
class="wikitable" align="center" | ||||||
Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coeluroides
| C. largus | Bara Simla | | "Isolated vertebrae.""Table 3.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 50. | A Indeterminate theropod also known from Dabrazhin Formation of Kazakhstan | | ||||||
style="background:#E6E6E6;"|Jubbulpuria
| style="background:#E6E6E6;"|J. tenuis | style="background:#E6E6E6;"|Bara Simla | style="background:#E6E6E6;"| | style="background:#E6E6E6;"|"Vertebrae." | style="background:#E6E6E6;"|Likely junior synonym of Laevisuchus{{Cite journal |last1=Mohabey |first1=Dhananjay M. |last2=Samant |first2=Bandana |last3=Vélez-Rosado |first3=Kevin I. |last4=Wilson Mantilla |first4=Jeffrey A. |date=2024-02-07 |title=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=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=43 |issue=3 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2023.2288088 |issn=0272-4634}} | style="background:#E6E6E6;"| | ||||||
style="background:#fbdddb;"
|Referred to as the 'E' morphotype |Rahioli | |Originally identified as belonging to Megalosaurus, however may instead represent a troodontid.{{cite web | url=https://theropoddatabase.github.io/Troodontidae.htm#Troodontidae | title=Troodontidae }} | | ||||||
Ornithomimidae?Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
| 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. | | ||||||
style="background:#E3F5FF;" | ||||||
Trachoolithus[https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=81708 Trachoolithus] in the Paleobiology Database
|T. faticanus | Bara Simla | |Eggs. |Theropod egg fossils. | |
== Indeterminate or chimaeric taxa ==
= Reptiles =
== Snakes ==
class="wikitable" align="center" | ||||||
Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Madtsoia
| 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 about to attack a titanosaur hatchling]] |
== Crocodylomorphs ==
== Turtles ==
class="wikitable" align="center" | ||||||
Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jainemys
| J. pisdurensis | Pisdura hill | | | A bothremydid side-necked turtle. | | ||||||
PelomedusidaeD. M. Mohabey. 1990. Discovery of dinosaur nesting site in Maharashtra. Gondwana Geological Magazine 3:32-34.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.
|Indeterminate | | | |A turtle. | |
= Mammals =
class="wikitable" align="center" | ||||||
Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avashishta
| Bacharam | | | A Haramiyida Mammal. | |
= Mollusca =
See also
- List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
- Geology of India
- Deccan Traps
- Maevarano Formation, contemporaneous fossiliferous formation of Madagascar
- Intertrappean Beds contemporaneous formation in India, also known for its fossils
References
{{reflist|30em}}
= Bibliography =
- {{citation |last1=Weishampel |first1=David B. |author2-link=Peter Dodson |last2=Dodson |first2=Peter |author3-link=Halszka Osmólska |last3=Osmólska |first3=Halszka |year=2004 |title=The Dinosauria, 2nd edition |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vtZFDb_iw40C |publisher=Berkeley: University of California Press |pages=1–880 |accessdate=2019-02-21 |isbn=0-520-24209-2 |author1-link=David B. Weishampel }}
Category:Geologic formations of India
Category:Upper Cretaceous Series of Asia
Category:Shallow marine deposits
Category:Ooliferous formations
Category:Paleontology in India