Palaeobiogeographic significance of the Deccan infra‐ and intertrappean biota from peninsular India

摘要: Extensive work done in the last decade on sedimentary beds intercalated with Deccan volcanic flows (infra‐ and intertrappean) has demonstrated vast potential of these rocks for vertebrate, invertebrate plant fossils. The infra‐ intertrappean beds, especially those exposed eastern margin Traps, produced a large number fossils which made it possible to establish age duration volcanism (late Cretaceous—early Palaeocene) some degree confidence. Affinities late Cretaceous infratrappean vertebrates, such as pelomedusid turtles sauropod dinosaurs, lie Gondwanan landmasses. It seems more likely that taxa are relicts stock boarded Indian plate well before its separation from Madagascar 70–80 Ma ago. Remnants former Gondwanaland fauna, turtles, leptodactylid frogs titanosaurid dinosaurs did persist relatively younger (latest Cretaceous) beds. ...