Lameta Formation

It is of the Maastrichtian age (Late Cretaceous), and is notable for its dinosaur fossils

Lameta Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian ~70–66 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Exposure of the Lameta Formation at its type locality of Lameta
Type	Geological formation
Underlies	Intertrappean Beds, Deccan Traps deposits
Overlies	Jabalpur Group or Precambrian Basement
Area	5,000 km2 (1,900 sq mi)
Thickness	Variable, typically 18–45 m (59–148 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Claystone, sandstone limestone
Other	Conglomerate
Location
Coordinates	23°12′N 80°00′E / 23.2°N 80.0°E / 23.2; 80.0
Approximate paleocoordinates	24°42′S 63°12′E / 24.7°S 63.2°E / -24.7; 63.2
Region	Western India
Country	India
Extent	Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
Type section
Named for	Lameta Ghat
Lameta Formation (India)

The first fossils found in the Lameta Formation were discovered between 1917 and 1919.

The Lameta Formation was first identified in 1981 by geologists working for the Geological Survey of India (GSI), G. N. Dwivedi and Dhananjay Mahendrakumar Mohabey, after being given limestone structures–later recognised as dinosaur eggs–by workers of the ACC Cement Quarry in the village of Rahioli near the city Balasinor in the Gujarat state of western India.

The formation is underlain by the Lower Cretaceous sedimentary "Upper Gondwana Sequence" also known as the Jabalpur Formation, and is overlain by the Deccan Traps basalt. The Lameta Formation is only exposed at the surface as small isolated outcrops associated with the Satpura Fault. The lithology of the formation, depending on the outcrop, consists of alternating clay, siltstone and sandstone facies, deposited in fluvial and lacustrine conditions. The environment at the time of deposition has alternatively been considered semi-arid, or tropical humid.

Many dubious names have been created for isolated bones, but several genera of dinosaurs from these rocks are well-supported, including the titanosaur sauropods Isisaurus and Jainosaurus and the Abelisaurs Indosaurus, Indosuchus, and Rajasaurus and Noasaurids Laevisuchus. Mammals are also known form the formation, such as the possibly late surviving Avashishta, the possibly youngest know stegosaurian Deltapodus, madtsoiid snakes and other fossils.

Dinosaurs

 

Sauropods

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Isisaurus	I. colberti	Dongargaon Hill		Holotype skeleton consists of cervical, dorsal, sacral, caudal vertebrae, ribs, pelvis, scapula, coracoid, left forelimb, and other bones. Other specimens such as skull, hindlimb, and foot bones are unknown.	A titanosaur.
Jainosaurus	J. septentrionalis	Bara Simla		"Basicranium and partial postcranial skeleton."	A titanosaur.
Titanosaurus	T. blanfordi			"Caudal vertebrae."	A titanosaur.
	T. indicus			"Teeth"
Megaloolithus	M. cylindricus			Sauropod egg fossils
	M. dhoridungriensis
	M. jabalpurensis
	M. khempurensis
	M. megadermus
	M. problematica
	M. walpurensis
	M. sp.

Theropods

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Compsosuchus	C. solus			"Vertebrae"	Previously considered a Noasaurid now considered an indeterminate Abelisaurid
Coeluroides	C. largus	Bara Simla		"Isolated vertebrae."	A Indeterminate theropod also known from Dabrazhin Formation of Kazakhstan
Dryptosauroides	D. grandis	Bara Simla		"Vertebrae."
Indosaurus	I. matleyi	Bara Simla		Partial skeleton, including a partial skull.
Indosuchus	I. raptorius	Bara Simla		Cranial remains, including two braincases, as well as a nearly complete skeleton.	An abelisaurid theropod.
Jubbulpuria	J. tenuis			"Vertebrae."	Likely junior synonym of Laevisuchus
Lametasaurus	L. indicus	Bara Simla		"Sacrum, ilia, tibia." "Sacrum, ilia, tibia, spines, armor."
Laevisuchus	L. indicus	Bara Simla		Only vertebrae.	A noasaurid
Ornithomimoides	O. barasimlensis	Bara Simla		"Vertebrae."	An abelisaurid
	O. mobilis	Bara Simla		"Vertebrae"
Orthogoniosaurus	O. matleyi	Bara Simla		"Tooth"
Rahiolisaurus	R. gujaratensis	Rahioli Village		Cervical, dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, portions of pectoral and pelvic girdles, and several hind limb bones of different individuals.	An abelisaurid.
Rajasaurus	R. narmadensis	Temple Hill, Rahioli		A partial skeleton consists of maxillae, premaxillae, braincase, and quadrate bone on the skull; and spine, hip bone, legs, and tail in post-cranial remains.	An abelisaurid.
Noasauridae	Indeterminate			A partial dentary	A noasaurid.

Ornithischian

Reptile

Snakes

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Sanajeh	S. indicus			A skull, precloaca vertebrae and ribs.	A madtsoiid snake
Madtsoia	M. pisdurensis				A madtsoiid snake

Turtles

Mammals

Mollusca

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
• Geology of India
• Deccan Traps
• Maevarano Formation, contemporaneous fossiliferous formation of Madagascar
• Intertrappean Beds contemporaneous formation in India, also known for its fossils