Vertebrate fauna from the Late Triassic Tiki Formation of India: new finds and their biostratigraphic implications

Sanghamitra Ray; Mohd. Safi Bhat; Debarati Mukherjee; P.M. Datta

doi:10.54991/jop.2016.298

Authors

Sanghamitra Ray Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, India
Mohd. Safi Bhat Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, India
Debarati Mukherjee Geological Studies Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B.T. Road, Kolkata 700108, India
P.M. Datta Greenwood Housing Cooperative Society Ltd., 315B Upen Banerjee Road, Kolkata 700060, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54991/jop.2016.298

Keywords:

Biostratigraphy, Carnian, Late Triassic, Tiki Formation, Vertebrate

Abstract

Recent work on the Tiki Formation has resulted in the collection of new and varied vertebrate micro–and megafossils, including a new bonebed containing low diversity, mono–dominant, multitaxic vertebrate accumulation where the rhynchosaur, Hyperodapedon tikiensis constitute the dominant component. This bonebed has also yielded a large traversodontid cynodont Ruberodon roychowdhurii. In addition, there are several diagnostic postcrania such as vertebrae and incomplete limb bones belonging to a basal saurischian dinosaur. Systematic exploration and collection has yielded numerous isolated teeth and postcrania of small vertebrates such as different types of freshwater sharks, bony fishes, archosauriforms, lepidosauromorphs, cynodonts and other reptiles. Based on its fossil flora and fauna, the Tiki Formation is globally correlated with other coeval horizons such as the lower member of the Maleri Formation of the Pranhita–Godavari basin, the upper part of the Santa Maria Formation of Brazil, the Camp Springs and lower Tecovas formations of the Chinle Group, USA. A Carnian (Otischalkian to early Adamanian) age is proposed for the Tiki Formation.

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