Intertrappean Beds Explained

Intertrappean Beds
Type:Geological formation
Age:Maastrichtian-Danian,
Period:Maastrichtian
Region:Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
Country:India
Coordinates:17.2°N 77.9°W
Unitof:Deccan Traps
Overlies:Infratrappean Beds
Paleocoordinates:-28°N 59°W

The Intertrappean Beds are a Late Cretaceous and Early Paleocene geologic formation in India. The beds are found as interbeds between Deccan Traps layers, including the slightly older Lameta Formation. The formation spans the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary, with a stratigraphic range of only a few hundred thousand years before and after the boundary, and a significant debate exists about whether specific sites belong to the Cretaceous or the Paleocene.[1] [2]

Many mostly fragmentary fossils, especially of small vertebrates, are known from the formation. Indeterminate theropod and pterosaur remains have been recovered from the formation, as well as dinosaur eggs.[3] [4] The mammal genera Deccanolestes, Sahnitherium, Bharattherium, Indoclemensia, Indotriconodon and Kharmerungulatum have been recovered from several localities.[5] The Bamanbor locality in Gujarat preserves articulated freshwater fish specimens. A rich plant flora is known from the formation.

Paleobiota

Fish

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
AnthracopercaA. bhatiaiNaskal, RangapurOtolith.A percoid otolith.
ApateodusA. striatusAsifabad[6] An enchodontoid aulopiform.
Ariidaeincertae sedisNaskal, Rangapur, AnjarOtolith.An ariid catfish otolith.
?BelonostomusB. indicusNagpur[7] An aspidorhynchid.
CoupateziaC. spAsifabadAn eagle ray.
Cyprinidaeincertae sedisDeothan-KheriA cyprinid.
Dapalis D. ericiRangapurOtolith.A serranid otolith.
"Eotrigonodon""E." wardhaensisAsifabadInitially described as tetraodontiform, but likely represent grasping teeth of pycnodonts.[8]
EnchodusE. spAsifabadAn enchodontoid aulopiform.
HoraclupeaH. intertrappeaBamanbor[9] Complete skeleton.A clupeid.
IgdabatisI. indicusKisalpuri & Piplanarayanwar[10] [11] An eagle ray.
IndiaichthysI. bamanborensisBamanborMultiple complete skeletons.A possible percoid.
"Indotrigonodon""I." ovatusAsifabadInitially described as tetraodontiform, but likely represent grasping teeth of pycnodonts.
"Lepidotes""L." spAsifabadA lepisosteiform.
LepisosteusL. indicusKisalpuri & PiplanarayanwarA gar.
Nandidaeincertae sedisDeothan-KheriA nandid.
Osteoglossidaeincertae sedisKisalpuri & PiplanarayanwarAn osteoglossid of uncertain affinities.
PalaeolabrusP. dormaalensisAsifabadA palaeolabrid.
PalaeopristolepisP. chiplonkariBamanborMultiple partial skeletons.A questionable leaffish.[12]
P. feddeni
"Perca""P." angustaBamanborSkull.A possible percoid, classification very doubtful.
Percomorphaincertae sedisBamanborPartial skeleton.A percomorph of uncertain affinities.
PhareodusP. sp.Asifabad, Naskal & MarepalliA bonytongue.
Polycanthidaeincertae sedisDeothan-KheriA polycanthid.
"Pisdurodon""P." spatulatusAsifabadInitially described as tetraodontiform, but likely represent grasping teeth of pycnodonts.
Pycnodontidaeincertae sedisKisalpuri & PiplanarayanwarA pycnodontid of uncertain affinities.
"Pycnodus""P." lametaeAsifabadA pycnodontid.
RajaR. sudhakariAsifabadA skate.
RhombodusR. sp.AsifabadA stingray.
Serranidaeincertae sedisDeothan-KheriA serranid.
Siluriformesincertae sedisKisalpuri & PiplanarayanwarA catfish of uncertain affinities.
Sphenodus S. sp.AsifabadA shark.
StephanodusS. lybicusAsifabad & MarepalliA pycnodontid.

Invertebrate

Genus Species Material Location Time Period Notes Images
?BuprestidaeIndeterminateMaharashtraMaastrichtianA Jewel beetle.
Lomatus[13] L. hislopiMaharashtraMaastrichtianA Jewel beetle.
?CurculionidaeIndeterminateMaharashtraMaastrichtianA Snout beetle.
MeristosM. hunteriMaharashtraMaastrichtianA Snout beetle.
OstracodaIndeterminateMaharashtraMaastrichtianAn Ostracod.
PalaeotanymecidesP. hislopiMaharashtraMaastrichtianA Snout beetle.
BivalviaIndeterminateMaharashtraMaastrichtianA Clam.
Limnaeasp.MaharashtraMaastrichtianA Snail.
Valvatasp.MaharashtraMaastrichtianA Snail.
Paludinasp.MaharashtraMaastrichtianA Snail.
PhysaP. prinsepiiMaharashtraMaastrichtianA Snail.

Otolith-based taxa

Genus[14] SpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
"Ambassidarum"A. cappettaiNagpurOtolithAn ambassid otolith.
"Apogonidarum"A. curvatusNaskal, RangapurOtolithA cardinalfish otolith.
"Blenniidarum"B. spRangapurOtolithA blenny otolith.
?"Centropomidarum" C. takliensisNagpurOtolithA possible snook otolith.
"Clupeidarum"C. valdiyaiNagpur, RangapurOtolithA clupeid otolith.
C. sahnii
"Gonorhynchidarum"G. rectangulusNagpur, RangapurOtolithA gonorynchid otolith.
"Heterotidinarum"H. heterotoidesNaskalOtolithAn arapaimine otolith.
"Notopteridarum" N. nolfiNaskal, Rangapur, CheemalaguttaOtolithA notopterid otolith.
"Osteoglossidarum"O. deccanensisNaskal, OtolithAn osteoglossid otolith.
O. intertrappus
"Percoideorum"P. citreumNaskal, Nagpur, RangapurOtolithPercoid otoliths.
P. nagpurensis
P. rangapurensis
?"Pristolepidinarum"P. jaegeriNagOtolithA possible pristolepid otolith.
"Serranidarum"S. sp.AnjarOtolithA serranid otolith.

Amphibians

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Gobiatidaeincertae sedisNaskalA gobiatid frog.
"Hemisotidae"/"Leptodactylidae"incertae sedisNaskalA frog of uncertain affinities.
IndobatrachusI. pusillusWorli HillMultiple complete skeletons[15] A frog of uncertain affinities.
Pelobatidaeincertae sedisNagpurA pelobatid frog.
Ranoideaincertae sedisNaskalA ranoid frog.
Costataincertae sedisA costatan frog

Turtles

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
CarteremysC. leithiiWorli HillCarapace, plastron, skull and partial mandibleA turtle of uncertain affinities.
SankuchemysS. sethnaiAmboli Quarry[16] SkullA bothremydid turtle.

Lepidosaurs

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
AcrosphenodontiaIncertae sedisNaskal[17] Dentary with teeth.An indeterminate rhynchocephalian.
"Agama"A. sp.RangapurAn indeterminate agamid lizard.
AnguidaeIncertae sedisNaskalAn indeterminate anguid lizard.
?CaudataIncertae sedisA possible salamander.
?"Contogenys"?"C." sp.NagpurAn indeterminate scincomorph lizard.
DeccansaurusD. palaeoindicusKesavi[18] Jaws & several osteoderms.A scincoid lizard.
?"Exostinus""E." estestaiNagpurAn indeterminate xenosaurid lizard.
"Eumeces""E." sp.RangapurAn indeterminate scincid lizard.
IndophisI. sahniiNaskal[19] Over 160 vertebrae.A nigerophiid snake.
"Litakis""L." sp.NagpurAn indeterminate lizard.
"Pristiguana""P." sp.NagpurAn indeterminate iguanid lizard.
SerpentesIncertae sedisNaskalA trunk vertebra & left dentary.A snake.
SerpentesIncertae sedisPossibly a primitive form,
MadtsoiidaeIncertae sedisThree individuals.Madsoid snakes.
cf. Indophiscf. I. sahniiNigerophiidae snake.
BooideaIncertae sedisPossibly a Booid snake.

Crocodyliforms

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Crocodylidaeincertae sedisWorli Hill[20] Teeth and dentary.A crocodylid crocodyliform.
Dyrosauridaeincertae sedisKisalpuri[21] Partial mandible, frontal, and vertebraeA dyrosaurid crocodyliform.
Crocodyliformesincertae sedisNaskalTeeth.Shows similarities to Hamadasuchus and perhaps Mahajangasuchus.

Dinosaurs

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
?"Hypselosaurus""H." spMohgaon KalanA titanosaurian sauropod.
Massospondylus[22] M. rawesiToothPreviously thought to be Massospondylus now thought to have been an indeterminate Theropod.
SauropodaIncertae sedisAsifabad, Ranipur, AnjarBonesSauropod bones.

Oogenera

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
MegaloolithusbaghensisKisalpuriEggshell fragmentsA Titanosaur egg.
SubtiliolithuskachhensisKisalpuriEggshell fragmentsA Enantiornithine bird egg.

Mammals

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
BharattheriumB. bonaparteiKisalpuriA sudamericid mammal.
DeccanolestesD. hislopiNaskal microvertebrate siteMolars, calcanea, astralgi, humerus, ulna.A eutherian mammal.
D. robustusNaskal microvertebrate site"Dental material and an astragalus".A eutherian mammal.
D. narmadensisKisalpuriA eutherian mammal.
Indoclemensia I. naskalensisNaskal microvertebrate siteA eutherian mammal.
I. magnusNaskal microvertebrate siteA eutherian mammal.
IndotriconodonI. magnusKutch[24] A eutriconodont mammal.
KharmerungulatumK. vanvaleniKisalpuri[25] A eutherian mammal.
SahnitheriumS. rangapurensisRangapur microvertebrate site[26] Upper Molar.A eutherian mammal.

Flora

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Connaroxylon C. dimorphum Dhagaon, Mandla district[27] WoodAffinities with Connaraceae.
EuphorbiothecaE. deccanensisFruit, member of Euphorbiaceae.[28]
Hyphaeneocarpon Fruit, member of palm tribe Borasseae.[29]
Palmocarpon Fruit, member of palm tribe Cocoseae.[30]
PalmoxylonP. dindoriensis Wood, member of palm subfamily Coryphoideae.[31]
PantocarponFruit, member of Torricelliaceae.[32]
Phyllanthocarpon P. singpurensis Fruit, member of Phyllanthaceae.[33]
Rhizopalamoxylon Palm rhizome, close affinities to Nypa.[34]
PediastrumAlgae.[35]
LecaniellaAlgae.
PierceitesP. deccanensisA Dinocyst.
AulacoseiraA Diatom.
AzollaMember of Salviniaceae.
CrybelosporitesMember of Marsileaceae.
SparganiaceaepollenitesPollen grains, Member of Sparganiaceae/Typhaceae.
Marsilea Member Marsileaceae.
RegnellidiumMember of Marsileaceae.
Nymphaeaceae indet.
Typhaceae indet.
Liliaceae indet.
Acanthaceae indet.
Pontederiaceae indet.
OvoiditesMember of Zygnemataceae.
GabonisporisPollen grains, member of Marsileaceae.

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Khosla . Ashu . Verma . Omkar . Kania . Sachin . Lucas . Spencer . 2023 . Microbiota from the Late Cretaceous-Early Palaeocene Boundary Transition in the Deccan Intertrappean Beds of Central India . Topics in Geobiology . 54 . en . 10.1007/978-3-031-28855-5 . 978-3-031-28854-8 . 0275-0120.
  2. 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 . 10.1016/j.palaeo.2022.110857 . 2022PPP...59110857W . 0031-0182.
  3. Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
  4. Barrett, P.M., Butler, R.J., Edwards, N.P., & Milner, A.R. Pterosaur distribution in time and space: an atlas. p61-107. in Flugsaurier: Pterosaur papers in honour of Peter Wellnhofer. 2008. Hone, D.W.E., and Buffetaut, E. (eds). Zitteliana B, 28. 264pp.http://epub.ub.uni-muenchen.de/12007/1/zitteliana_2008_b28_05.pdf
  5. Web site: MESOZOIC MAMMALS; Basal Eutheria Two, an internet directory . 2008-05-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607225340/http://home.arcor.de/ktdykes/basepi.htm . 2011-06-07 .
  6. Prasad . G. V. R. . 1989-08-01 . Vertebrate Fauna From the Infra- and Inter-trappean Beds of Andhra Pradesh: Age Implications . Geological Society of India . en . 34 . 2 . 161–173 . 0974-6889.
  7. Web site: Mineralienatlas - Fossilienatlas . 2024-03-07 . www.mineralienatlas.de . en.
  8. Verma . Omkar . Khosla . Ashu . Kaur . Jasdeep . Prashanth . M. . 2017-02-17 . Myliobatid and pycnodont fish from the Late Cretaceous of Central India and their paleobiogeographic implications . Historical Biology . en . 29 . 2 . 253–265 . 10.1080/08912963.2016.1154954 . 2017HBio...29..253V . 0891-2963.
  9. Borkar . V. D. . 1973-10-01 . Fossil fishes from the Inter-trappean beds of Surendranagar District, Saurashtra . Proceedings / Indian Academy of Sciences . en . 78 . 4 . 181–193 . 10.1007/BF03045500 . 0370-0097.
  10. Khosla . A. . Prasad . G. V. R. . Verma . O. . Jain . A. K. . Sahni . A. . 2004-08-10 . Discovery of a micromammal-yielding Deccan intertrappean site near Kisalpuri, Dindori District, Madhya Pradesh . Current Science . en . 87 . 3 . 380–383 . 0011-3891.
  11. Lourembam . Ranjit Singh . Prasad . Guntupalli V. R. . Grover . Pooja . 2017 . Ichthyofauna (Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes) from the Upper Cretaceous intertrappean beds of Piplanarayanwar, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh, India . Island Arc . en . 26 . 1 . 10.1111/iar.12180 . 2017IsArc..26E2180L . 1038-4871.
  12. Friedman . Matt . V. Andrews . James . Saad . Hadeel . El-Sayed . Sanaa . 2023-06-16 . The Cretaceous–Paleogene transition in spiny-rayed fishes: surveying "Patterson's Gap" in the acanthomorph skeletal record André Dumont medalist lecture 2018 . Geologica Belgica . en . 10.20341/gb.2023.002 . 1374-8505. free .
  13. Web site: Fossil Buprestidae . Bellamy, C. L. . 2013 . A Checklist of World Buprestoidea . 7 Sep 2021.
  14. Nolf . Dirk . Rana . R. S. . Prasad . G. V. R. . 2008 . Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian fish otoliths from the Deccan Intertrappean Beds, India: a revision . Bulletin de l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, Sciences de la Terre . 78 . 239–259.
  15. Noble . G. K. . 1930-02-08 . The fossil frogs of the intertrappean beds of Bombay, India. . American Museum Novitates . 401 . 1–13. 2246/3061 .
  16. Book: Gaffney, Eugene S. . Sankuchemys, a new side-necked turtle (Pelomedusoides, Bothremydidae) from the late Cretaceous of India . 2003 . American Museum of Natural History . New York, NY.
  17. Anantharaman . S. . DeMar . David G. . Sivakumar . R. . Dassarma . Dilip Chandra . Wilson Mantilla . Gregory P. . Wilson Mantilla . Jeffrey A. . 2022-06-30 . First rhynchocephalian (Reptilia, Lepidosauria) from the Cretaceous–Paleogene of India . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . en . 42 . 1 . 10.1080/02724634.2022.2118059 . 0272-4634. free . 2022JVPal..42E8059A .
  18. Yadav . Ravi . Bajpai . Sunil . Maurya . A.S. . Čerňanský . Andrej . June 2023 . The first potential cordyliform (Squamata, Scincoidea) from India (uppermost Cretaceous – lowermost Paleocene): an African lizard clade brings possible implications for Indo-Madagascar biogeographic links . Cretaceous Research . 150 . en . 105606 . 10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105606. 2023CrRes.15005606Y .
  19. Rage . Jean-Claude . Prasad . Guntupalli V. R. . November 1992 . New snakes from the late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of Naskal, India . N. Jb. Geol. Palaeont. Abh. . 187 . 1 . 83–97. 10.1127/njgpa/187/1992/83 .
  20. Prasad . Guntupalli V. R . de Lapparent de Broin . France . 2002-01-01 . Late Cretaceous crocodile remains from Naskal (India): comparisons and biogeographic affinities . Annales de Paléontologie . 88 . 1 . 19–71 . 10.1016/S0753-3969(02)01036-4 . 2002AnPal..88...19P . 0753-3969.
  21. Khosla . Ashu . Sertich . Joseph J. W. . Prasad . Guntupalli V. R. . Verma . Omkar . 2009-12-12 . Dyrosaurid remains from the Intertrappean Beds of India and the Late Cretaceous distribution of Dyrosauridae . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . en . 29 . 4 . 1321–1326 . 10.1671/039.029.0416 . 2009JVPal..29.1321K . 0272-4634.
  22. Book: Weishampel, David B. . David B. Weishampel . Dinosaur distribution . David B. Weishampel . Peter Dodson . Halszka Osmólska. The Dinosauria . 1st . 1990 . University of California Press . Berkeley . 978-0-520-06727-1 . 63–139 .
  23. Pentland . Adele H. . Poropat . Stephen F. . 2023-07-01 . A review of the Jurassic and Cretaceous Gondwanan pterosaur record . Gondwana Research . 119 . 341–383 . 10.1016/j.gr.2023.03.005 . 2023GondR.119..341P . 1342-937X.
  24. Bajpai . Sunil . Rautela . Abhay . Yadav . Ravi . Mantilla . Gregory P. Wilson . The first eutriconodontan mammal from the Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of India . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . 29 February 2024 . 10.1080/02724634.2024.2312234 .
  25. Prasad . G. V. R. . Verma . O. . Sahni . A. . Parmar . V. . Khosla . A. . 2007-11-09 . A Cretaceous Hoofed Mammal from India . Science . en . 318 . 5852 . 937 . 10.1126/science.1149267 . 17991854 . 2007Sci...318..937P . 0036-8075.
  26. Rana . Rajendra S. . Wilson . Gregory P. . 2003 . New Late Cretaceous mammals from the Intertrappean beds of Rangapur, India and paleobiogeographic framework . Acta Palaeontologica Polonica . 48 . 3 . 331–348.
  27. Baas . Pieter . Manchester . Steven R. . Wheeler . Elisabeth A. . Srivastava . Rashmi . 2017-02-13 . Fossil wood with dimorphic fibers from the Deccan Intertrappean Beds of India – the oldest fossil Connaraceae? . IAWA Journal . en . 38 . 1 . 124–133 . 10.1163/22941932-20170162 . 0928-1541 . 91159009 . free.
  28. Reback . Rachel G. . Kapgate . Dashrath K. . Wurdack . Ken . Manchester . Steven R. . 2022-02-01 . Fruits of Euphorbiaceae from the Late Cretaceous Deccan Intertrappean Beds of India . International Journal of Plant Sciences . en . 183 . 2 . 128–138 . 10.1086/717691 . 239507275 . 1058-5893.
  29. Matsunaga. Kelly K S. Manchester. Steven R. Srivastava. Rashmi. Kapgate. Dashrath K. Smith. Selena Y. 2019-06-21. Fossil palm fruits from India indicate a Cretaceous origin of Arecaceae tribe Borasseae. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. en. 190. 3. 260–280. 10.1093/botlinnean/boz019. 0024-4074. free.
  30. Manchester. Steven R.. Bonde. Suresh D.. Nipunage. Dinesh S.. Srivatava. Rashmi. Mehrotra. Rakesh C.. Smith. Selena Y.. 2016-07-19. Trilocular Palm Fruits from the Deccan Intertrappean Beds of India. International Journal of Plant Sciences. 177. 7. 633–641. 10.1086/687290. 88667232 . 1058-5893.
  31. Khan. Mahasin Ali. Roy. Kaustav. Hazra. Taposhi. Mahato. Sumana. Bera. Subir. 2020-01-01. A New Coryphoid Palm from the Maastrichtian-Danian Sediments of Madhya Pradesh and its Palaeoenvironmental Implications. Journal of the Geological Society of India. en. 95. 1. 75–83. 10.1007/s12594-020-1388-1. 2020JGSI...95...75K . 210134584 . 0974-6889.
  32. Manchester. Steven R.. Kapgate. Dashrath K.. Patil. Sharadkumar P.. Ramteke. Deepak. Matsunaga. Kelly K.S.. Smith. Selena Y.. 2019-10-23. Morphology and Affinities of Pantocarpon Fruits (cf. Apiales: Torricelliaceae) from the Maastrichtian Deccan Intertrappean Beds of Central India. International Journal of Plant Sciences. 181. 4. 443–451. 10.1086/706856. 1058-5893. free.
  33. Kapgate. Dashrath. Manchester. Steven R.. Stuppy. Wolfgang. 2017-06-01. Oldest fruit of Phyllanthaceae from the Deccan Intertrappean Beds of Singpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Acta Palaeobotanica. 57. 1. 33–38. 10.1515/acpa-2017-0004. 2082-0259. free.
  34. Kathal. P. K.. Srivastava. Rashmi. Mehrotra. R. C.. Alexander. P. O.. 2017-03-29. Rhizopalmoxylon nypoides – a new palm root from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India. Journal of Earth System Science. en. 126. 3. 35. 10.1007/s12040-017-0815-1. 2017JESS..126...35K . 0973-774X. free.
  35. Samant . Bandana . Puranik . Sumedha . Kapgate . D. K. . Mohabey . D. M. . Dhobale . Anup . 2022-11-01 . Palynoflora from an Upper Cretaceous freshwater paleolake in central India: paleoecological implications . Cretaceous Research . 139 . 105302 . 10.1016/j.cretres.2022.105302 . 2022CrRes.13905302S . 0195-6671.