Upper Maleri Formation
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The Upper Maleri Formation is a sedimentary rock formation found in Telangana, India. It is one of the formations of the Pranhita–Godavari Basin. It is of late Norian and possibly earliest Rhaetian ages (Late Triassic), and is notable for its fossils of early dinosaurs.
Paleobiota
| Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon | Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited. | |||||
| Taxon | Reclassified taxon | Taxon falsely reported as present | Dubious taxon or junior synonym | Ichnotaxon | Ootaxon | Morphotaxon |
Dinosauriforms
An unnamed guaibasaurid was present in the formation based on associated vertebrae, hip, and hindlimb material, specimens ISI R277. Two more indeterminate dinosauriform species are also known from the formation, based on specimens ISI R282 (a hip and three vertebrae) and ISI R284 (a right ilium similar to that of Nambalia roychowdhurii).
| Dinosauriforms from the Upper Maleri Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
| Jaklapallisaurus | J. assymetrica | Telangana | ISI R274, postcranial material | An unaysaurid sauropodomorph, also found in the Lower Dharmaram Formation | |
| Nambalia | N. roychowdhurii | Telangana | ISI R273, including partial postcrania of at least three individuals of different sizes found closely associated | A basal sauropodomorph | |
| Maleriraptor | M. kuttyi | Pranhita-Godavari Valley | ISIR 282, partial sacral ribs, vertebrae, and pelvic girdle | A herrerasaurian |
Other amniotes
Phytosaur fossils are known from the formation, including forms similar to Angistorhinus and Leptosuchus. Indeterminate aetosaurs and dicynodonts have also been reported.
| Non-dinosaur amniotes from the Upper Maleri Formation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Notes | Images |
| Kranosaura | K. kuttyi | ISIR 269, a partial skull | A dome-headed protopyknosian archosauriform, related to Triopticus from the Colorado City Formation of Texas |
Temnospondyls
| Temnospondyls from the Upper Maleri Formation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Notes | Images |
| Compsocerops | C. cosgriffi | A chigutisaurid also found in the Santa Maria Formation | |
| Kuttycephalus | K. triangularis | A chigutisaurid |
Fish
| Fishes from the Upper Maleri Formation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Notes | Images |
| Ferganoceratodus | F. hislopianus | A ceratodontiform lungfish |
Correlations
The formation has been correlated with the Forest Sandstone of Africa, the lower Caturrita Formation of the Paraná Basin in Brazil, the upper Ischigualasto Formation and lower Los Colorados Formation of the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin of Argentina, and the Chinle Formation of North America.
See also
Further reading
- Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; Osmólska, Halszka, eds. (2004). (2nd ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 1–880. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.