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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.<ref name=":7">Wilson Mantilla, Gregory P.; Renne, Paul R.; Samant, Bandana; Mohabey, Dhananjay M.; Dhobale, Anup; Tholt, Andrew J.; Tobin, Thomas S.; Widdowson, Mike; Anantharaman, S.; Dassarma, Dilip Chandra; Wilson Mantilla, Jeffrey A. (2022-04-01). "New mammals from the Naskal intertrappean site and the age of India's earliest eutherians". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 591 110857. Bibcode:2022PPP...59110857W. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2022.110857. ISSN 0031-0182.</ref> 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.<ref name="Huene & Matley 1933">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</ref>

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.<ref name="description">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" (PDF). Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology University of Michigan. 31 (1): 1–42.</ref>

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.<ref>Srivastava, Ashok K.; Mankar, Rupesh S. (January 2015). "Lithofacies architecture and depositional environment of Late Cretaceous Lameta Formation, central India". Arabian Journal of Geosciences. 8 (1): 207–226. Bibcode:2015ArJG....8..207S. doi:10.1007/s12517-013-1192-y. ISSN 1866-7511. S2CID 67851941.</ref><ref>Kumari, Anjali; Singh, Seema; Khosla, Ashu (January 2021). "Palaeosols and palaeoclimate reconstruction of the Maastrichtian Lameta Formation, Central India". Cretaceous Research. 117 104632. Bibcode:2021CrRes.11704632K. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104632. S2CID 224946979.</ref>

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’’..<ref name="DBWetal04">Weishampel et al., 2004, pp.517-606</ref> 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

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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.<ref>Chatterjee, Sankar (2020), Prasad, Guntupalli V.R.; Patnaik, Rajeev (eds.), "The Age of Dinosaurs in the Land of Gonds", 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{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)</ref> Described as a nodosaurid, but the limb bones are titanosaurian.<ref name=":3">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 104881. Bibcode:2021CrRes.12504881R. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104881. ISSN 0195-6671.</ref>
Brachypodosaurus B. gravis Chota Simla Hill "Humerus."<ref name="table-17-1-367">"Table 17.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 367.</ref> May not be dinosaurian
Ceratopsia? Indeterminate Kheda Horncore base. Originally described as a ceratopsian horncore,<ref>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. JSTOR 24092279.</ref> but likely represents a theropod limb element or a dorsal rib of a theropod or a titanosauriform.<ref>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:FDTDCR]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0272-4634. JSTOR 4524765.</ref>
Deltapodus<ref>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". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen. 285 (1): 91–96. Bibcode:2017NJGPA.285...91G. doi:10.1127/njgpa/2017/0671. ISSN 0077-7749.</ref> sp. Jetholi Solitary footprint. A Possible Late Cretaceous Stegosaur, Like Dravidosaurus.
Hypsilophodontidae?<ref name=":0" /> Indeterminate. Vikarabad. Teeth. Hypsilophodontidae is not a natural grouping.
Ornithischia?<ref>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.</ref> Indeterminate Kheda GSI/GC/2905 Originally identified as an indeterminate ornithischian braincase. Later found out to be a Titanosaur dorsal vertebra.<ref>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.</ref>

Spheroolithus? sp. Polgaon,

Tidkepar

Egg fossils. Questionably assigned to this genus<ref>Khosla, Ashu; Lucas, Spencer G. (2020), "Indian Late Cretaceous Dinosaur Nesting Sites and Their Systematic Studies", Late Cretaceous Dinosaur Eggs and Eggshells of Peninsular India, vol. 51, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 117–205, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-56454-4_4, ISBN 978-3-030-56453-7, retrieved 2024-02-13{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)</ref>

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 the skull, hindlimb, and foot bones, are unknown. A lithostrotian titanosaur.
Isisaurus
Jainosaurus
Megaloolithus
Jainosaurus J. septentrionalis Bara Simla "Basicranium and partial postcranial skeleton."<ref name="table-13-1-269">"Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 269.</ref> A titanosaur
J. cf. septentrionalis Chhota Simla Partial skeleton including a rib fragrement, caudal centrum, humeri, radius and an articulated left limb.<ref>Wilson, Jeffrey A.; Barrett, Paul M.; Carrano, Matthew T. (2011-09). "An associated partial skeleton of Jainosaurus cf. septentrionalis (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Chhota Simla, Central India". Palaeontology. 54 (5): 981–998. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01087.x. ISSN 0031-0239. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)</ref>
Titanosaurus T. blanfordi
  • Panchgaon
  • Pisdura Hill
Caudal vertebrae.<ref name="table-13-1-270">"Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 270.</ref> A dubious genus of titanosaur.<ref>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. Bibcode:2003JSPal...1..125W. doi:10.1017/s1477201903001044. ISSN 1477-2019.</ref>
T. indicus Pisdura Hill Caudal Vertebrae, two partial rami of haemapophysis, partial left tibia, partial right fibula, and a partial referred femur.<ref name="Huene & Matley 1933"/>
T.? rahioliensis<ref name="1978:">Mathur, U. B.; Srivastava, S. (1987-06-01). "Dinosaur Teeth from Lameta Group (Upper Cretaceous) of Kheda District, Gujarat". Journal Geological Society of India. 29 (6): 554–566. Bibcode:1987JGSI...29..554M. doi:10.17491/jgsi/1987/290603. ISSN 0974-6889.</ref> Rahioli Village About 34 teeth in total. Might not belong to this genus.
Megaloolithus<ref>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", Late Cretaceous Dinosaur Eggs and Eggshells of Peninsular India, vol. 51, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 207–271, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-56454-4_5, ISBN 978-3-030-56453-7, retrieved 2024-01-21{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)</ref> 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<ref>"Deccan Continental Flood Basalt Eruption Terminated Indian Dinosaurs before the Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary". ResearchGate.</ref> Indeterminate Ukala. Dorsal vertebrae, parts of the ilia and pelvis, and limb bones. A titanosauriform.
Sauropoda<ref>Mathur, U. B.; Pant, S. C. (1986). "Sauropod dinosaur humeri from Lameta Group (Upper Cretaceous-? Palaeocene) of Kheda district, Gujarat" (PDF). Journal of the Paleontological Society of India. 31 (1): 22-25. doi:10.1177/0971102319860104.</ref> 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<ref>Wilson, J. A., P. C. Sereno, S. Srivastava, D. K. Bhatt, A. Khosla, and A. Sahni. 2003. "A new abelisaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Lameta Formation (Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) of India", Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology of the University of Michigan, 31:6</ref> indeterminate Temple Hill, Rahioli disarticulated remains. Discovered alongside the Rajasaurus holotype.

Theropods

Abelisaurs
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Abelisauroidea Indeterminate Multiple specimens.<ref name=":1" /> Could be referred to Abelisauridae or Noasauridae.<ref name=":2" />
Rajasaurus
Indosuchus
Rahiolisaurus
Abelisauridae Indeterminate Multiple specimens. Include form similar to Majungasaurus and forms similar to Carnotaurus.<ref name=":1">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. S2CID 89198898.</ref>
Compsosuchus C. solus Bara Simla "Vertebrae" Previously considered a Noasaurid now considered an indeterminate Abelisaurid<ref>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.</ref>
Indosaurus I. matleyi Bara Simla Partial skeleton, including a partial skull.<ref name="table-3-1-49" /> An abelisaurid
Dryptosauroides D. grandis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."<ref name="table-3-1-50"/> An abelisaurd
Ellipsoolithus<ref>D. M. Mohabey. 1998. Systematics of Indian Upper Cretaceous dinosaur and chelonian eggshells. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 18(2):348-362</ref> E. khedaensis Kheda Eggs Theropod egg fossils.
Indosuchus I. raptorius Bara Simla Cranial remains, including two braincases, as well as a nearly complete skeleton.<ref name="table-3-1-49" /> An abelisaurid
Ornithomimoides O. barasimlensis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."<ref name="table-3-1-50"/> An abelisaurid<ref name="Noasaurs" />
O. mobilis Bara Simla "Vertebrae"<ref name="table-3-1-50"/>
Orthogoniosaurus O. matleyi Bara Simla "Tooth"<ref name="table-3-1-50"/> An abelisaurid<ref>"The history of dinosaur collecting in Central India, 1828-1947". ResearchGate.</ref>
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.<ref name="table-3-1-49">"Table 3.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 49.</ref> A noasaurid.
Noasaurinae Indeterminate Pisdura Hill A partial dentary.<ref name="Noasaurs" /> A noasaurine noasaurid.
Noasauridae Indeterminate Multiple specimens.<ref name=":1" /> May include femora from very large individuals.<ref name=":2">"Ceratosauria".</ref>
Other Theropods
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Coeluroides C. largus Bara Simla "Isolated vertebrae."<ref name="table-3-1-50">"Table 3.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 50.</ref> A Indeterminate theropod also known from Dabrazhin Formation of Kazakhstan
Jubbulpuria J. tenuis Bara Simla "Vertebrae."<ref name="table-3-1-50"/> Likely junior synonym of Laevisuchus<ref name="Noasaurs">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) e2288088. doi:10.1080/02724634.2023.2288088. ISSN 0272-4634.</ref>
?Megalosaurus Type A-E Rahioli Several teeth <ref name="1978:"/> 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).<ref name="1978:"/> However a specimen(GSI Type No. 19996) may instead represent a troodontid.<ref>"Troodontidae".</ref>
Ornithomimidae?<ref name="dinosaurdistribution">Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.</ref> 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.<ref name=":1" />
Trachoolithus<ref name=PBDB>Trachoolithus in the Paleobiology Database</ref> 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."<ref name="Dubey1946">Dubey, V. S (October 1946). "A note on the occurrence of Pterosauria in India" (PDF). Current Science. 15 (10): 287–288.</ref> May instead be a later cretaceous pterosaur,<ref name="Dubey1946"/> proposed to be either belonging to the Infratrappean or Intertrappean beds, although if it were a pterosaur it would not be Maastrichtian.<ref>Pentland, Adele H.; Poropat, Stephen F. (2023-07-01). "A review of the Jurassic and Cretaceous Gondwanan pterosaur record". Gondwana Research. 119: 341–383. Bibcode:2023GondR.119..341P. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2023.03.005. ISSN 1342-937X.</ref>
Lametasaurus L. indicus Bara Simla "Sacrum, ilia, tibia."<ref name="table-3-1-50"/> "Sacrum, ilia, tibia, spines, armor."<ref name="table-17-1-368">"Table 17.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 368.</ref> Includes crocodylomorph, titanosaur scutes and possibly ankylosaurian osteoderms.<ref name=":3" /> Also includes abelisaurid material now removed from the type and is being assigned to the Rajasaurus.<ref name="description" />

Reptiles

Snakes

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Madtsoia M. pisdurensis<ref>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. Bibcode:2011JVPal..31..588M. doi:10.1080/02724634.2011.560220. S2CID 129792355.</ref> 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<ref>Rana, R. S. 1987. Dyrosaurid crocodile (Mesosuchia) from the infratrap pean beds of Vikarabad, Hyderabad District, Andhra-Pradesh. Cur rent Science 56:532-534</ref><ref name=":0">"Microvertebrates from the infratrappean beds of Rangareddi District, Andhra Pradesh and their biostratigraphic significance".</ref><ref>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". PLOS ONE. 10 (12) e0144369. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1044369S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144369. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 4671694. PMID 26641665.</ref> 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<ref>D. M. Mohabey. 1990. Discovery of dinosaur nesting site in Maharashtra. Gondwana Geological Magazine 3:32-34.</ref><ref>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.</ref> Indeterminate A turtle.

Mammals

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Avashishta A. bacharamensis<ref>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:APLCHF]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0272-4634. JSTOR 4524590.</ref> 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

Bibliography