Upper Dharmaram Formation
The Upper Dharmaram Formation is an Early Jurassic geologic formation found in Andhra Pradesh, India. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.
| Upper Dharmaram Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Hettangian–Sinemurian | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Underlies | Kota Formation |
| Overlies | Lower Dharmaram Formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Sandstone, mudstone |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 19.3°N 79.5°E |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 28.2°S 34.1°E |
| Region | Andhra Pradesh |
| Country |  India |
| Extent | Pranhita–Godavari Basin |
  Upper Dharmaram Formation (India) | |
Age
The Upper Dharmaram Formation overlies the Lower Dharmaram Formation, which dates to the Late Triassic, and conformably underlies the Kota Formation, the age of which is uncertain. Typical Triassic fauna, such as phytosaurs and aetosaurs, are absent from the Upper Dharmaram Formation, suggesting that it is Jurassic in age and that the boundary between the Lower and Upper Dharmaram Formation may correspond to the Triassic-Jurassic boundary.[1] A Sinemurian age has been suggested based on faunal similarities to the Upper Elliot and Clarens Formations of southern Africa, the Kayenta Formation of North America, and the Lower Lufeng Formation of China.[2] A Hettangian age has also been suggested.[3]
Fossil organisms
Non-dinosaurian reptiles
| Taxon | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aff. Dibothrosuchus[2] | A sphenosuchian | ||||
Dinosaurs
| Taxon | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aff. Dilophosaurus[2] | A large neotheropod similar to Dilophosaurus | ||||
| Taxon | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamplughsaura dharmaramensis | Partial skeletons of four individuals[4] | Possible basal Sauropod. | |||
| Partial skeleton including a few skull bones, three vertebrae, and partial manus[5] | A non-sauropod sauropodomorph, possibly a massospondylid. | ||||
| Sauropodomorpha indet. | Incomplete femur | A probable third sauropodomorph taxon, distinct from both Lamplughsaura and Pradhania[6] | |||
References
- Kutty et al. 2007, p. 1218.
- Kutty et al. 2007, p. 1219.
- Chatterjee 2020, p. 194.
- Kutty et al. 2007, p. 1220.
- Kutty et al. 2007, p. 1232.
- Kutty et al. 2007, p. 1233.
Works cited
- Chatterjee, Sankar (2020). "The Age of Dinosaurs in the Land of Gonds". In Prasad, Guntupalli V.R.; Patnaik, Rajeev (eds.). Biological Consequences of Plate Tectonics. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. Cham: Springer International Publishing. pp. 181–226. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-49753-8_8. ISBN 978-3-030-49752-1. S2CID 229651571.
- Kutty, T.S.; Chatterjee, Sankar; Galton, Peter M.; Upchurch, Paul (2007). "Basal sauropodomorphs (Dinosauria: Saurischia) from the Lower Jurassic of India: their anatomy and relationships". Journal of Paleontology. 81 (6): 1552–1574. doi:10.1666/04-074.1. S2CID 130508134.