Early cretaceous belemnites from Southern India

The Cauvery Basin has been the subject of intense research into the bio- and lithostratigraphies of the basin fill since Blanford and Stoliczka (1861-65). The Karai Formation ranges from the Early Albian through to the late Turonian in age. The belemnites in this study were collected from the sediments of Albian age. Over 3500 belemnites were collected of which, 2 families and three genera were identified. The belemnite fauna is rich and although not extremely diverse, it shows a range of species belonging to the three main genera. Three species of Parahibolites and seven species of Neohibolites of the family Belemnopseidae were identified along with two new subspecies of Tetrabelus of the family Dimitobelidae. The study of fossils found in the sediments of this basin provide an insight into the timing of the break-up of Gondwana and the formation of the seaways, over time. One group of belemnites, the dimitobelids, are only found in the Southern Hemisphere at about the time of the Gondwanan break-up, whereas, Neohibolites and Parahibolites are to be found throughout the World's seas at this time (Aptian-Albian), including those of southern India. Neohibolites seems to be constantly present in this formation, whereas Parahibolites and Tetrabelus appear and disappear periodically. This pattern may indicate some kind of climatic or geographic influence on the different genera. Neohibolites have so far been recorded from Europe, whereas the Parahibolites species have only been recorded from the Souther Hemishpere. Tetrabelus is characteristic of the Austral Realm and is never found outside of it.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

mres

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Greenwich

Year dc:date.issued

2003

Author dc:creator

• Shakides, Emma Victoria

• QE Geology

Language dc:language

en