Tiki Formation

Tiki Formation
Stratigraphic range: Carnian-Norian
~235–208 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofGondwana Group
Sub-unitsLower & Upper members
Lithology
PrimaryMudstone
OtherClaystone, sandstone
Location
Coordinates23°54′N 81°24′E / 23.9°N 81.4°E / 23.9; 81.4
Approximate paleocoordinates42°36′S 51°06′E / 42.6°S 51.1°E / -42.6; 51.1
RegionMadhya Pradesh
Country India
Type section
Named forTiki village
Tiki Formation is located in India
Tiki Formation
Tiki Formation (India)
Tiki Formation is located in Madhya Pradesh
Tiki Formation
Tiki Formation (Madhya Pradesh)

The Tiki Formation is a Late Triassic (Carnian to Norian) geologic formation in Madhya Pradesh, northern India.[1] Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been referred to a specific genus.[2] Phytosaur remains attributable to the genus Volcanosuchus have also been found in the Tiki Formation.[3]

The genera Tikiodon, Tikitherium and Tikisuchus and species Rewaconodon tikiensis, Hyperodapedon tikiensis and Parvodus tikiensis have been named after the Tiki Formation.

Fossil content[edit]

The following fossils have been described from the formation:[1]

Cynodonts[edit]

Cynodonts of the Tiki Formation
Genus Species Material Notes
Gondwanadon[4][5] G. tapani A single molar A morganucodont
Inditherium[4] I. floris Three postcanine teeth A dromatheriid
Rewaconodon[4] R. indicus A partial jaw and three postcanine teeth A dromatheriid
R. tikiensis[6]
Ruberodon[4][7] R. roychowdhurii Five partial jaws A traversodontid
Tikiodon[4] T. cromptoni A single postcanine tooth A mammaliamorph
Tikitherium[4][8] T. copei A single postcanine tooth A mammaliaform related to Docodonta, or a Neogene shrew fossil that was reworked into the older deposit
Cynodontia indet.

Reptiles[edit]

Reptiles of the Tiki Formation
Genus Species Material Notes
Colossosuchus C. techniensis Known form multiple skeletons, all likely died together A Mystriosuchine Phytosaur
Hyperodapedon huxleyi[9][6] H. huxleyi A Rhynchosaur
H.tikiensis[10] Various cranial and postcranial elements
Parasuchus[11][6] P. hislopi Two articulate skeletons and isolated skulls A basal Phytosaur
Tikisuchus[11] T. romeri The skull and some postcranial elements of a young individual A Rauisuchid
Volcanosuchus[3] V. statisticae A Phytosaur
Ornithischia indet.[12][6]
Phytosauria indet.[12][13]
Pseudosuchia indet.[14]
Sphenodontia indet.[12][6]
Theropoda indet.[11]

Amphibians[edit]

Amphibians of the Tiki Formation
Genus Species Material Notes
Eodiscoglossus[6] E. sp Prehistoric frog
Compsocerops C. tikiensis A Chigutisaurid Temnospondyl
Metoposaurus[11] M. sp. A Temnospondyl

Fish[edit]

Fishes of the Tiki Formation
Genus Species Material Notes
Cladodus[6] C. sp. An isolated tooth A Cladoselachid
Lissodus[6] L. duffini An isolated tooth A Hybodontid
Parvodus[6] P. tikiensis Teeth A Hybodontid
Actinopterygii indet.[6]
Coelacanthidae indet.[6]


Flora[edit]

Correlations[edit]

The Tiki Formation is considered a temporal equivalent of the Lower Maleri Formation. The majority of the Tiki Formation correlates with the Ischigualasto Formation of Argentina, the upper part of the Santa Maria Formation, and the overlying lower Caturrita Formation of Brazil, the Isalo II Beds of Madagascar, Lossiemouth Sandstone of Scotland, and the lower Tecovas Formation of the Chinle Group of North America.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Tiki Formation at Fossilworks.org
  2. ^ Weishampel et al., 2004, "Dinosaur distribution", pp. 517-607
  3. ^ a b Chatterjee, 1978
  4. ^ a b c d e f Bhat, M. S.; Ray, S.; Datta, P. M. (2020). "New cynodonts (Therapsida, Eucynodontia) from the Late Triassic of India and their significances". Journal of Paleontology. 95 (2): 376–393. doi:10.1017/jpa.2020.95. S2CID 228836405.
  5. ^ Datta & Das, 1996
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kumar & Sharma, 2019
  7. ^ Ray, S. (2015). "A new Late Triassic traversodontid cynodont (Therapsida, Eucynodontia) from India". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 35 (3): e930472. doi:10.1080/02724634.2014.930472. S2CID 86368800.
  8. ^ Datta, P. M. (2005). "Earliest mammal with transversely expanded upper molar from the Late Triassic (Carnian) Tiki Formation, South Rewa Gondwana Basin, India". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 25 (1): 200–207. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025[0200:EMWTEU]2.0.CO;2.
  9. ^ Lydekker, 1885
  10. ^ Mukherjee & Ray, 2015
  11. ^ a b c d Chatterjee & Majumdar, 1987
  12. ^ a b c Datta et al., 2005
  13. ^ Mukherjee & Ray, 2012
  14. ^ Huene, 1940
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h Pal, 1984

Bibliography[edit]

  • Kumar, J., and K. M. Sharma. 2019. Micro and mega-vertebrate fossils from the Late Triassic Tiki Formation, South Rewa Gondwana Basin, India: palaeoenvironmental and palaeobiogeographic implications. Journal of the Palaeontological Society of India 64. 151–168. .
  • Mukherjee, D., and S. Ray. 2015. A new Hyperodapedon (Archosauromorpha, Rhynchosauria) from the upper Triassic of India: implications for rhynchosaur phylogeny. Palaeontology 57. 1241–1276. .
  • Mukherjee, D., and S. Ray. 2012. Taphonomy of an Upper Triassic vertebrate bonebed: A new rhynchosaur (Reptilia; Archosauromorpha) accumulation from India. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 333-334. 75–91. .
  • Datta, P. M.; D. P. Das, and Z.-X. Luo. 2004. A late Triassic dromatheriid (Synapsida: Cynodontia) from India. Annals of Carnegie Museum 73. 72–84. .
  • Weishampel, David B.; Peter Dodson, and Halszka Osmólska (eds.). 2004. The Dinosauria, 2nd edition, 1–880. Berkeley: University of California Press. Accessed 2019-02-21. ISBN 0-520-24209-2
  • Datta, P. M., and D. P. Das. 1996. Discovery of the oldest fossil mammal from India. Indian Minerals 50. 217–222. .
  • Chatterjee, S., and P. K. Majumdar. 1987. Tikisuchus romeri, a new rauisuchid reptile from the Late Triassic of India. Journal of Paleontology 61. 787–793. .
  • Pal, P.K. 1984. Triassic plant megafossils from the Tiki Formation, South Rewa Gondwana Basin, India. The Palaeobotanist 32. 253-309. .
  • Chatterjee, S. 1978. A primitive parasuchid (Phytosaur) reptile from the Upper Triassic Maleri Formation of India. Palaeontology 21. 83–127. .
  • Huene, F. von. 1940. The tetrapod fauna of the Upper Triassic Maleri Beds. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India Palaeontologia Indica 32. 1–42. .
  • Lydekker, R. 1885. The Reptilia & Amphibia of the Maleria & Denwa Groups. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India. Palaeontologia Indica, Series IV. Indian Pretertiary Vertebrata 1. 1–38. .