Kallakurichi Formation

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Kallakurichi Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian
~72–69  Ma
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Type Geological formation
Unit of Ariyalur Group
Underlies Ottakovil formation
Overlies Sillakkudi formation
Lithology
Primary Limestone
Location
Coordinates 11°06′N79°06′E / 11.1°N 79.1°E / 11.1; 79.1
Approximate paleocoordinates 35°18′S56°24′E / 35.3°S 56.4°E / -35.3; 56.4
Region Tamil Nadu
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
Type section
Named for Kallakurichi
India relief location map.jpg
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Kallakurichi Formation (India)
India Tamil Nadu relief map.svg
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Kallakurichi Formation (Tamil Nadu)

The Kallakurichi Formation, alternatively spelled as Kallankurichchi or Kallankurichi Formation, [1] is a geological formation of the Ariyalur Group in Tamil Nadu, southern India whose strata date back to the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur eggs of Megaloolithus cylindricus are among the fossils that have been recovered from the sandy limestones of the formation. [2]

Contents

Fossil content

The following fossils were reported from the formation: [1]

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxonTaxon falsely reported as presentDubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Dinosaurs

Ornithischian
Ornithischians from the Kallakurichi Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Stegosauridae [3] indetA Stegosaurid.
Sauropods
Sauropods from the Kallakurichi Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
 ? Titanosaurus [3] T. indicusA titanosaurian sauropod.
Megaloolithus [4] M. cylindricusFossilised EggsA Sauropod Oogenus.
Theropods
Theropods from the Kallakurichi Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Theropoda [3] indetA Theropod.

Molluscas

Molluscas from the Kallakurichi Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Inoceramus [5] I. bulbusA Clam.
I. tamulicus
Pycnodonta [5] P. vesicularisA Clam.
Ostrea (Alectryonia) [5] sp.A Clam.
Anisomyon [5] A. indicusA snail.
Brachiopods from the Kallakurichi formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotesMember
Gyrodina G. globosa [5]
Neobulimina N. sp. [5]
Foraminiferans from the Kallakurichi formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotesMember
Textulariina T. nacataensis [5]
Rhynchonellatans from the Kallakurichi formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotesMember
Rectithyris R. subdepressa [5]
Rhynchonella R. sp. [5]
Sea Urchins from the Kallakurichi formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotesMember
Hemipneustes H. compressus [6]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Kallankurichchi Formation at Fossilworks.org
  2. Weishampel et al., 2004, pp.593-600
  3. 1 2 3 Weishampel, et al. (2004). "The Dinosauria. Second Edition." Pp 680.
  4. Kohring et al., 1996
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ayyasami, 1989
  6. Aziz & Badve, 1990

Bibliography