006891   Bajpai S;Thewissen J G M;Sahni A (Earth Sciences Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee-247 677, Email: sunilfes@iitr.ernet.in) : Origin and early evolution of whales: macroevolution documented on the Indian subcontinent. J Biosci, Bangalore 2009, 34(5), 673-86.

The origin of whales (order Cetacea) from a four-footed land animal is one of the best understood examples of macroevolutionary change. This evolutionary transition has been substantially elucidated by fossil finds from the Indian subcontinent in the past decade and a half. Here, we review the first steps of whale evolution, i.e. the transition from a land mammal to obligate marine predators, documented by the Eocene cetacean families of the Indian subcontinent: Pakicetidae, Ambulocetidae, Remingtonocetidae, Protocetidae, and Basilosauridae, as well as their artiodactyl sister group, the Raoellidae. We also discuss the influence that the excellent fossil record has on the study of the evolution of organ systems, in particular the locomotor and hearing systems.

10 illus, 64 ref

023484   Tewari R;Jha N (Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: rajni.tewari@gmail.com) : Permian megaspores from Godavari graben, India: Present Status. Palaeobotanist 2007, 56(1-3), 133-8.

Sarvey of megaspore studies from Permian of Ramagundam, Chelpur, Mailaram, Rampuram, Gundala and Kachinapalli areas of Godavari Graben, Andhra Pradesh indicates their qualitative and quantitative richness during the Late Permian. Out of seventy nine megaspore taxa recorded from Indian Lower Gondwana, twenty three are represented in this graben. Presence of Biharisporites sparsus in the Raniganj Formation of Kachinapalli area is particularly significant because it was previously recorded from Triassic and thus indicates an early appearance of Triassic taxon in Godavari Graben in Late Permian. Additionally, the survey also records a higher (eighteen) number of megaspore taxa in the Raniganj Formation. A distinct evolutionary trend is observed since exosporia of megaspores from the Barakar Formation are simple and those of the Raniganj Formation are complex and more diversified.

4 illus, 25 ref

023483   Sarma A;Ghosh A K (Geology Dep, G.C. College, Silchar-788 004, Email: akghosh_in@yahoo.com) : Calcareous green algae from the umlatdoh limestone belonging to shella formation (Jaintia group) of South Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India. Palaeobotanist 2007, 56(1-3), 21-8.

Thin section analysis of Umlatdoh Limestone belonging to Shella Formation exposed in the southern part of Jaintia Hills yielded well preserved calcareous algae. Detailed taxonomical analyses of the algal forms reveal the existence of udoteacean and halimedacean green algae that includes three species of the genus Ovulites Lamarck belonging to family Udoteaceae. One species ofHalimeda Larnouroux belonging to family Halimedaceae also has been described in the present paper. Based on the algal assemblage along with sedimentological and micropalagntological observations interpretations on palaeoenvironment and palaeobathymetry have been made.

2 illus, 28 ref

023482   Ranhotra P S;Bhattacharyya A;Kotlia B S (Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 Univ Road, Lucknow-226 007) : Vegetation and climatic changes around Lamayuru, trans-Himalaya during the last kyr B.P.. Palaeobotanist 2007, 56(1-3), 117-26.

Palynological analysis of a 105 m deep palaeolake profile from Lamayuru, Ladakh, Trans-Himalayan region, provides a broad idea of temporal succession of vegetation vis-a-vis climatic changes during major part of the last glacial period. The present study suggests that the prevailing semi-arid climate of this region has been continuing at least from prior to 35 kyr B.P. characterized by the Chenopodiaceae-Ephedra-Artemisia steppe. Migration of Betula around 35 kyr B.P. into the steppe took place when climate was comparatively less arid than before and its further increase around 22 kyr B.P. in the Ephedra-^/'femu'z'fl-Chenopodiaceae steppe suggests comparatively favourable climatic conditions. Subsequently the climate had turned to be cooler and drier with the expansion of steppe taxa.

2 illus, 35 ref

023481   Ram Awatar;Rajanikanth A (Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany, 53 Univ road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: rawatar_2003@yahoo.com) : Triassic conifer wood from the Tiki formation, south Rewa basin, Madhya Pradesh, India. Palaeobotanist 2007, 56(1-3), 127-32.

Conifer wood from the Triassic sequence of the Tiki Formation, <126>3 km NE of Tiki Village, district Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, India. Since Triassic wood records are hardly known from India when compared to leaf fossils, Report of podocarpean wood provides additional evidence for the existence of conifers in the otherwise pteridosperm dominated fossil flora of South Rewa Basin during the Carnian-Norian times.

2 illus, 33 ref

023480   Rai J (Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 Univ Road, Lucknow-226 007) : Middle Eocene calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and taxonomy of onland kutch basin, western India. Palaeobotanist 2007, 56(1-3), 29-116.

Rich and diversified nannofossil assemblage comprising 110 species (13 new species and 8 new taxonomic combinations) and 4 calcareous dinoflagellates species are described from the type locality of Harudi Formation and Fulra Limestone Formation of Kutch Basin. The assemblage is dominated by the families Braarudosphaeraceae, Rhabdosphaeraceae and Calyptrosphaeraceae. All holococcolith genera except genus Peritrachelina are recorded in the assemblage. The assemblage is typically indicative of low-latitude, nearshore, shallow water environment and can be assigned to zone NP 17 Discoaster saipanensis Zone (Martini, 197 la emend. Rai, 1988). It also correlates with parts of both PI 3 Orbulinoides beckmanni and P14 Truncorotaloides rohri planktonic foraminifera Zones (Blow, 1969) and apart of Dll Dinoflagellate Zone (Costa & Manum in Vinken, 1988) of Bartonian age. Critical reappraisal of published fossil records including age diagnostic planktonic and larger foraminifera species and nannofossil data along with field observations of supratrappeans indicate, three discrete lithounits in ascending order viz., shale-marl-limestone upto terminal Fulra Limestone Formation.

3 illus, 234 ref

023479   Meshram S N;Sonakia A (Geological Survey of India, Seminary Hills, Nagpur-440 006) : Fossil femur of a giant elephant (cf.Elephas namadicus) from middle pleistocene, Central India. Indian Miner 2006, 60(3-4), 199-202.

A femur bone assignable to a giant elephant (Elephas namadIcus) has been excavated from the Surajkund Formation (<126>ca 0.5-0.7 Ma) of the Narmada R. basin. The specimen is the largest femur so far reported from India. It has the greatest length of 1490 mm which suggests that the animal has attained estimated height of at least 4000 mm. Elephas namadicus, now extinct, is considered as a species that first appeared in Asia during Cromerian equivalent Pleistocene (<126>ca 0.5-0.7 Ma).

2 illus, 2 tables, 10 ref

023478   Meshram S N (Palaeontology Div, Geological Survey of India, Seminary Hills, Nagpur-440 006) : Stratigraphy and palaeontology of the quaternary sediments of the Wardha valley, Maharashtra. Indian Miner 2007, 61(1-2), 39-44.

Systematic palaeontological study in Wardha district, Maharashtra has brought to notice a few mammalian fragmentary fossils, amongst which, a horn core of Anti/ope cervicapra is worth mentioning. Only two horizons, the kankariferous grey clay of the Sirri formation and an interface of sandstone (Jamalpur formation) and czarina-coloured silty clay (Sirri formation) are fossiliferous. Decline of the blackbuck population and diminution of their habitat since Holocene is discussed.

7 illus, 4 tables, 10 ref

023477   Chakraborti B;Ram Awatar (Coal Wing, Geological Survey of India, Kolkata-700 091) : Inter-relationship of the palynofloral assemblages from mand coalfield, Chhattisgarh and its significance. Indian Miner 2006, 60(3-4), 153-70.

Is a synthesis of the palynological assemblages recorded from the sediments of three bore cores and one outcrop section from Mand Gondwana Sub-basin, Chhattisgarh. The palynofloral assemblages consist of 62 spore/pollen genera and 75 species. Based on the dominance and subdominance of the palynoflora three palynozones - Scheuringipollenites barakarens/s, Faunipo/len/tes varius and Gondisporites raniganjensis have been recognised, which may be correlated with Lower Barakar, Upper Barakar and Raniganj palynofloral assemblages of Indian Gondwana respectively. The Barren Measures palynofloral assemblage is not encountered in any sample though arenites lithounit barren of coal along with palaeosol bed collected from B.H. MJB-1 clearly indicate the presence of Barren Measures strata. The apparent contradiction between lithostratigraphic and palynostratigraphic successions of the area is interesting, as it might indicate either i) the possibility of Barren Measures transgressing into Late Permian, or ii) hitherto known palynofloral assemblages of younger Raniganj Formation extending down within Permian, or iii) possibility of adiachronous sedimentation in the basin.

7 illus, 7 tables, 20 ref

023476   Bernardes-De-Oliveira M E;De Castro-Fernandes M C;Tewari R;Ricardi-Branco F (Centro de Pos-Graduacao, Pesquisa e Extensao, Guarulhos, SP, Brazil, Email: maryeliz@usp.br) : Platyspermic seeds from the early permian of parana basin, Brazil. Palaeobotanist 2007, 56(1-3), 1-19.

Taxonomic study of platyspermic seeds from taphofloristic assemblage of the "Toca do Indio Ranch", belonging to the upper portion of the Harare Subgroup, Municipality of Cerquilho (SP) and a revision of material collected by Millan (1977) from the same area which is deposited in the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro. The assemblage comprises the Transitional Taphoflora (A-B) or the Gangamopteris-Rubidgea-Stephahophyllites association from the type-locality of Northeastern Parana Basin. This taphoflora is Early Permian (Asselian- Early Sakmarian) in age and records the beginning of the colonization of the Parana Basin by the proto-glossopterid and gangamopterid elements of the Glossopteris flora. It is, probably, correlated to the Argentinean "Lubeckense A" Floristic Stage or even a little older. The platyspermic seeds are assigned to the genera Samaropsis and Cordaicarpus. The assemblage is diversified and includes the taxa Cordaicarpus brasilianus n. sp., Samaropsis dolianitii Millan, S. rigbyi Millan, S. tietensis Millan, S. cerquilhensis (Millan) comb, nov., S. moreirana (White) Millan, S. goraiensis Surange & Lele, S. rugata sp. nov. and S. rohnii sp.nov. The record of S. moreirana (White) Millan in the present study is the oldest from the Parana Basin and S. goraiensis Surange & Lele is recognized for the first time outside India. The wide variety of detached seeds reflect the diversification of the gymnosperms in this assemblage, putatively related to the last interglacial event of the Lower Gondwana glaciation in the Parana Basin. Biostratigraphic correlation based on seeds is not possible due to apparent endemic nature of the assemblage and further work in this field is required.

7 illus, 74 ref

021424   Talib A;Farooqui M Y (Geology Dep, Aligarh Muslim Univ, Aligarh-202 002, Email: talib04@rediffmail.com) : Distribution of recent foraminifera in the littoral sediments of Dwarka, Saurashtra coast, Gujarat. J Palaeont Soc India 2007, 52(1), 17-25.

Littoral sediments of Dwarka beach, Gujarat yield a Recent foraminifcral assemblage comprising 26 species dominated by the family Haucrinidac (42.3%). Systcmatics and distribution of the constituent species are discussed. The Dwarka beach foraminifcral assemblage is a typical shallow, warm-water assemblage dominated by calcareous forms. Six species, viz., Texlularia aff. T. kerimbaensis, Textulariu cf. T. punjabensis, T. rugosa, Quinqueloculina aff. Q. oculus, Triloculina aff. T. inornata, and T. aff. T. unidentata arc recorded for the first time from the Indian waters, while two species, viz., Quinqueloculina sulcata and Amphislegina madagascariensis arc recorded for the first time from beach sediments of the West Coast of India. The Dwarka foraminifcral assemblage is compared with other foraminifcral assemblages of the West and East coasts of India. The study indicates that West Coast of India has a prolific foraminiferal assemblage with high Total Species Number (TSN) as compared to the East Coast. The Dwarka beach is a relatively clean beach with coastal waters free from marine pollutants as reflected by the absence of any distortion and abnormality in the foraminiferal tests. Furthermore, salinity appears to play a dominant role among various ecological factors controlling the distribution of foraminifcra along Dwarka coast.

4 illus, 41 ref

021423   Sahni N;Singh M P;Bajpai U;Agrawal A; Alimohammadian H;Sarkar N (Centere of Advanced Study in Geology, Panjab Univ, Chandigarh-160 014) : Ultrastructure of a lower Eocene leaf surface impression in Amber, Vastan lignite mine, Gujarat. J Palaeont Soc India 2007, 52(1), 69-73.

Scanning Electron Microscopy of fossil leaf surfaces imprinted on amber nodules illustrate the potential of this technique in understanding the fine resolution details at the cell level including the density distributions of stomata and trichomes. Isolated trichomcs arc commonly found in certain ambers but arc here described in a spatial cuticular context. Stomatal distribution and density arc also recorded. About 15 fragments of an unidentified fossil leaf from the Vastan Lignite Mine, near Surat were studied and provide morpho-structural details of the cuticular surface, mode of preservation and an interpretation of palacoecological conditions and dcpositional palacocnvironmcnts. Using multi-imaging techniques it has been possible to obtain three-dimensional images of body fossils as well as surface impressions of plant and insect remains from the same material.

3 illus, 34 ref

021422   Pathak D B (Geology Dep, Banaras Hindu Univ, Varanasi-221 005) : Jurassic/cretaceous boundary in the Spiti Himalaya, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2007, 52(1), 51-7.

The Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary in the Spiti region of the Tethys Himalaya, was identified near the contact of the Spiti Shale with the Guimal Sandstone Formation, being marked by the first appearance of the genera Odontodiscoceras and/or Neocosmoceras and last appearance of the genus Virgatosphinctes.

5 illus, 21 ref

021421   Matsumaru K;Furusawa A (Geology Dep, Faculty of Education, Saitama Univ, Saitama 338-8570, Japan, Email: matsumar@post.saitama-u.ac.jp) : On orbitolind foraminifera from the Lower Aptian (Cretaceous) of Hokkaido, Japan. J Palaeont Soc India 2007, 52(1), 39-44.

Five orbitolinid foraminifera from the Lower Aptian Takisato Orbitolina Limestone, Shimanoshita Mudstone, Lower Yezo Group, Hokkaido, Japan arc described and illustrated, and one is described as a new species. An Early Aptian age is assigned to the assemblage.

3 illus, 25 ref

021420   Kumar S;Misra Y (Geology Dep, Lucknow Univ, Lucknow, Email: surendra100@hotmail.com) : Palaeoproterzoic stromatolite group Mistassinia from the Kheinju formation, Semri group, Chopan area, Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh. J Palaeont Soc India 2007, 52(1), 97-102.

The columnar stromatolite group .Mistassinia Hofmann is described from the Fawn Limestone of the Kcinjua Formation from Pataudh Hill near Chopan. The form is characterized by bipartite organization and bimodal development of laminae. It is made up of vertically accreting laminae in the central part of the column, and a secondary mode of asymmetrical, steeply inclined, obliquely accreting marginal laminae forming a partial or complete encrustation on the primary central portion. All three known occurrences of this form, including the present one, arc from the Palacoprotcrozoic and hence it is suggested that the form can be considered as an important form of this era and can be useful both for inlrabasinal and intcrbasinal correlation.

4 illus, 1 table, 20 ref

021419   Khare N;Chaturvedi S K (National Center for Antarctic and Ocean Research Ministry of Earth Sci, Headland Sada, Vasco-Da-Gama, Goa-403 804) : Latitudinal variations in the abundance of planktic foraminifera along the Indian ocean of the southern ocean. J Palaeont Soc India 2007, 52(1), 45-9.

During the 199C and 200th (also known as Pilot expedition to Southern Ocean) cruises of ORV Sagar Kanya between 9.69" N and 55.01°S latitude and 80° E and 40° E longitude, nineteen surface sediment samples were considered for present study, for which we simultaneously collected salinity data at near surface, 50 m and 100 m depths, using CTD. The planktic population is dominated by species such as Globigerina bulloides, Globigerinoides ruber, G. sacculifei; G. conglobatus, Orbulina universa, Neogloboquadrina pachyderma, Globorotalia menardii, etc. However, for the present purpose, the total planktic foraminiferal population was estimated in one gram dry sediments to assess the changes in their abundance along the north-south transect in the Indian Ocean Sector of Southern Ocean. Attempts arc made to establish inter-relationship of planktic foraminiferal population vis-a-vis salinity and other allied factors such as nutrient (phosphate) content of the ambient water masses.

3 illus, 1 tables, 32 ref

021418   Jauhri A K;Kishore S;Misra P K;Singh S K; Singh A P (Department of geology and Department of Botany, Lucknow Univ, Lucknow-226 007, Email: akjauhri@rediffmail.com) : Palaeocene (Danian-Thanetian) foraminifera in carbonate environment of the cauvery basin, southern India. J Palaeont Soc India 2007, 52(1), 103-10.

The carbonate environment that developed during the Palacoccnc in the study area is well represented in (he three units of the Ninniyur Formation. The environment ranged from the shallow inncr-ramp to mid- to uppermost outer-ramp environment and was host to several groups of invertebrate and foraminifcral fauna and algal flora. In the studied profiles of the lower, middle and upper units of this formation, it appears that it is the inner-ramp environment and its low-diversity assemblage of fossil forms that persisted throughout the course of deposition. The assemblage consists of foraminifers, represented by miliolids and fewer members of rotaliid and agglutinated groups, and calcareous algae (dasyclads). As this environment had a small habitat-area (ecospacc) with limited possibilities of further evolutionary differentiation, it was marked by the persistence of low-diversity biota throughout the Ninniyur succession. However, this continuum was broken when the deposition of the middle unit occurred in deeper mid- to uppermost outer-ramp locations of sea in the Periyakurichchi area. This change resulted in an enlarged habitat-area allowing for multiplication of microhabitats to give rise to high-diversity coralline algal assemblage with some planktic species.

3 illus, 26 ref

021417   Bhandari A (Geoscience Research Group, Keshava Deva Malaviya Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Kaulagarh, Dehradun-248 1995, Email: bhandarianil@yahoo.co.in) : Oligocene ostracode biostratigraphy of Kachchh and Bombay offshore basins, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2007, 52(1), 75-95.

Seventy-six ostracodc taxa are recorded from the Oligocene of the Kachchh and Bombay Offshore basins, India. Of these, Acanthocythereis muklaensis, Alocopocythere waiorensis, Asymmetricylhere kachchhensis, Bairdoppilata maharashtraensis, Bairdoppilata mumbaiensis, Bythocypris mumbaiensis, Phlyctenophora rainaniaensis, Quadracythere alata and Uroleberis iiulica arc new. On their First Appearance Datum (FAD) and Last Appearance Datum (LAD), the Lower Oligoccne strata in the Bombay Offshore Basin arc divided into four ostracodc interval zones. They are in ascending order: -Uroleberis sohni - Pokornyella kutchensis Interval Zone, 2-P. kutchensis - Phlyctenophora ramaniaensis n. sp. Interval Zone, 3-Phlyctenophora ramaniaensis-Acanthocythereis muklaensis Interval Zone and 4-Acanthocythereis muklaensis- Homibrookella ramaniaensis Interval Zone. The Upper Oligocene in the holostratotypc of the Waior river section, Kachchh is best developed and divided into four interval zones. They are: Alocopocythere waiorensis Range Zone, 2. Alocopocythere waiorensis - Alocopocythere elongata Interval Zone, 3. Alocopocythere elongata- Haplocytheridea manifesto / Loxoconcha keralaensis Interval Zone and 4. Haplocytheridea manifestalLoxoconcha keralaensis-ilroleberis sohni Interval Zone. The Lower Oligoccne ostracode zones of the Bombay Offshore Basin arc fairly well correlated and traced laterally in the Kachchh Basin.

7 illus, 24 ref

021416   Baruah P K;Das P K (Applied Geology Dep, Dibrugarh Univ, Dibrugarh-786 004) : Upper palaeocene carbonate facies from south Shillong plateau, Meghalaya, NE India. Ultra Scient phys Sci 2007, 19(3), 451-72.

The Lakadong Limestone Member (Thanetian) of Sylhet Formation (Thanetian-Priabonian) is the principal Paleocene marine facies in Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. The carbonate strata are beautifully exposed along quarry faces of Mawmluh-Cherrapunji Cement Ltd. of Khasi Hills. The stratigraphic horizon for its strong control in floral and faunal assemblages like Ranikothelia nutteli, Miscellanae miscella, Discocyclina ranikotensis, Lockhania heimei, Deviesina, Glomalveolina, Operculina salsa and Distichoplax biserialis bear significant importance in identifying the Paleocene succession in Cretaceous-Tertiary stratigraphy of the region. The exposed thickness of the Lakadong Limestone Member is about 35m. The limestone is rich in larger foraminifers, calcareous algae and few corals. The crustose coralline algae chiefly include species of Archaeolithothamniiim, Lithothamnium, Mesophyl/um, Lithoporella. Melobesia, Distichoplax, and the articulated corallines are Jania, corallina, and Cayeuxia. The principal Dasyclads are Dissocladella and Cymopolia. The larger foraminifers chiefy comprise of Alveolina (Glomoalveolina), Ranikothelia. Miscellanea, Operculina, Lockhartia, Discocyclina, Nummulite, Deviesina. Kathiana, and rotaliid-miliolid Association. Algal fragments, algal sticks, pellets and variable contents of foram-algal association are cemented by carbonate mud and sparry calcite, and largely formed skeletal packstone-grainstone-wackstone carbonate facies. which indicate moderate to high-energy, open stable marine environment of shallow depth and developed under warm, humid and tropical climate.

5 illus, 3 tables, 37 ref

020498   Mahesh Prasad (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow-226 007, Email: mahesh_bsip@yahoo.com) : Fossil wood and leaf of the genus Chrysohyllum linn. from churia (siwalik) group of Himalayan foot hills of western Nepal and its significance. Phytomorphology 2007, 57(3-4), 177-84.

Morpho-taxonomic study on the plant megafossils from churia (Siwalik) sediments of Arjun Khola area, western Nepal has been carried out for the first time. It reveals the presence of both fossil wood and leaf of the extant taxon, chrysophyllum roxburghii g. Don of the family Sapotaceae. The occurrence of an evergreen taxon, chrysophyllum roxburghii in the Siwalik sediments of Nepal is believed to be of ecologic/climatic significance. the present day distribution of this taxon indicates that the prevalence of unfavorable climatic conditios resulted in disappearance after Mio-Pliocene times.

5 illus, 27 ref

020497   Agarwal A;Ambwani K;Dutta D;Verma C L (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Uttar Pradesh, Email: AnilAgarwal_in@Yahoo.com) : Palmoxylon phoenicoides sp. nov. : a phoenix-like fossil palm wood from the deccan trap of Banswara district, Rajasthan. Phytomorphology 2007, 57(3-4), 171-6.

A detailed study of a fossil palm wood recovered from the Deccan Trap of Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam about 0.5km east on the way to mahi Dam, near Kharkhoti (23°38' : 74°33') in Banswara district, Rajasthan (India), has been carried out. The structure of fossil palm wood shows resemblance with stem of Phoenix sylvestris Roxb.

2 illus, 15 ref

018272   Mamta Kumari;Singh N P;Goutam Ranjan (Zoology Dep, M.S. College, Motihari, Jharkhand) : Effect of nickel on the haematological parameters of an exotic carp, Cyprinus carpio var. communis (Linn.). Nat Envir Pollut Technol 2007, 6(4), 657-9.

Haematological studies of Cyprinus carpio in the work include the erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit value or packed cell volume of blood, and subsequently absolute values of M.C.V., M.C.H. and MCHC were calculated by the respective formulae. The major effects of nickel on the blood parameters are concerned with total count of RBC, their size and differential count of WBC. The significance of the study is concerned with metallic pollution of major rivers of Jharkhand state.

1 table, 5 ref

017246   Bhaumik A K;Gupta A K;Sundar Raj M;Mohan K;De S;Sarkar S (Geology and Geophysics Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721 302, Email: anilg@gg.iitkgp.ernet.i) : Paleoceanographic evolution of the northeastern Indian Ocean during the Miocene: Evidence from deep-sea benthic foraminifera (DSDP Hole 216A). Indian J Mar Sci 2007, 36(4), 332-41.

Statistical analyses (factor and cluster) were performed on 30 highest ranked deep-sea benthic foraminifer species from <62>149 μm size fraction from Deep Sea Drilling Project Hole 216A to understand Miocene (<126>20.5 to <126>7 Ma) paleoceanographic evolution of the northeastern Indian Ocean. Factor and cluster analyses enabled us to identify five biofacies defining five clusters. Known ecological preferences of benthic foraminifera were used for environmental interpretations. The faunal data documents a shift in deep-sea ventilation and productivity at 15-14 Ma, coinciding with the abrupt cooling in the middle Miocene. This coincides with the beginning of permanent ice sheets in Antarctica during the middle Miocene.

016299   Sooravan T;Karuppasamy K (Entomology Division, Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Myladumpara-685 553) : Coleoptera from the mangrove forest of Palayakayal, Tamil Nadu. Bionotes 2007, 9(2), 56.

^ssc1 table, 5 ref

015458   Tripathi P P;Mishra R K (Botany Dep, M L K (P G) College, Balrampur) : Plant remains from a new fossil Sonpathri nala area of western Nepal with remarks on the palaeoecology of the region during the middle miocene. Int J Pl Sci 2007, 2(1), 210-14.

Two leaf impressions recovered from the Lower Siwalik sediments of a new fossil locality of Sonpathri Nala area, about 12 km. North-west of Sirisia town in Sharavasti dist of Uttar Pradesh, India has been described and discussed in the present paper belonging to two dictoyledonous families Fabaceae and Meliaceae. The modern equivalent taxa indicate that tropical ever green forests with few moist deciduous plants were flourishing around Sonpathri Nala area in the Himalayan foot-hills during Middle Miocene. Further, the presence of some Malayan elements like Desmodium polycarpum is phyto geographically important supporting the view of migration of some taxa from South-east Asia to Indian subcontinent during Neogene.

25 ref

014153   Prasad M;Agarwal A;Ambwani K (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: mahesh_bsip@yahoo.com) : Record of a fossil fruit of a coastal plant from the Baragolai formation, Assam, India. J appl Biosci 2007, 33(1), 42-4.

Fossil fruit compression, showing close resemblance with the modern Caesalpinia nuga Ait of the family Fabaceae, has been recorded from the Baragolai Coalfield, Assam. It is a first record of a single seeded pod of a coastal legume from the Ledo-Namdang area indicates the presence of palaeoshoreªline in the vicinity of the area, referable to tropical and humid climate during the Oligocene time.

2 illus, 12 ref

014152   Agarwal A;Ambwani K;Dutta D;Verma C L (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: anilagarwal_in@yahoo.com) : Silicified palm fruit, Arecoidocarpon prismaticum s.p. nov., from the Deccan intertrappean beds of Mohgaon Kalan, Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, India. J appl Biosci 2007, 33(1), 32-5.

Monocotyledonous fossil fruit, belonging to the family Arecaceae bas been recovered from the Deccan Intertrappean beds (Upper Cretaceous) of Mohgaon Kalan, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh, India. Earlier, the palm fruits described from the different Deccan Intertrappean localities by various workers, viz. Prakash (1954, 1960), Trivedi & Chandra (1973), Bande, Prakash & Ambwani (1982), Mehrotra (1987) and Bonde, (1990) belong to Coccoid, Arecoid and Borassoid groups. The characteristic features of the present fossil fruit its similarity to Arecoid group of palms. Anatomically, it differs from Arecoidocarpon kulkarnii in having prismatic and spongy layers of pericarp. The mesocarp is thick, bearing fibrous and fibrovascular bundles; the endocarp is divisible into the outer compact crystalline, the middle broad and irregularly oriented brachysclerieds while the inner consists of horizontally arranged scleried. The endosperm comprises multifaceted cells filled with tannin, embryo partly preserved, can be differentiated from the endosperm having distinct cells. The specific name of the present fossil fruit is derived from the prismatic layer of the endocarp and assigned as Arecoidocarpon prismaticum sp.nov.

2 illus, 12 ref

010183   Sekar B;Pokharia A K;Ravi Prasad G V; Chowdhury R K;Rajagopalan G;Pal J N (Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, Road Univ, Lucknow-226 007, Email: apokharia@yahoo.com ) : Liquid scintillation counting and AMS <. Curr Sci 2007, 93(10), 1354-6.

^ssc2 illus, 1 table, 24 ref

008174   Sulabha V;Prakasam V R (Environmental Sciences Dep, Kerala Univ, Karavattom-695 581) : Limnological features for Anandavalleeswaram temple pond of Kollam. Indian J envir Prot 2007, 27(2), 168-75.

Physico-chemical characteristics of water and sediment, primary productivity, qualitative and qua-ntitative analyses of photo and zooplankton, total and faecal coliform count and correlation coeffi-cient of various parameters of Anandavalleeswaram temple pond of Kollam were analysed from June 1999 to May 2000. Higher primary productivity and phytoplankton count recorded could be related to the favourable physico-chemical characteristics of both water and sediment. Temperature, conductivity, colour, pH, total alkalinity, chloride, total hardness, silicate, phosphate, iron, sodium, potassium and TDS of water; sediment pH and sediment nitrate; paimary productivity and zooplankton count recorded higher values during non-rainy season. Total and faecal coliforms registered higher values during monsoon season. Twenty five ganera of phytoplankton belonging to Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae and 11 genera of zooplankton belonging to Rotifera, Copepoda, Cladocera and Ostracoda are reported. A comparison of water characteristics of Anandavalleeswaram pond with BIS desirable limits for drinking and swimming water revealed that only colour, turbidity and coliform count exceeded the desirable limit.

7 tables, 45 ref

008173   Shankar K (Palaeontology Div, , Southern Region Geological Survey of India, Bandlaguda, hyderabad-500 068) : Quaternary vertebrates of southern India: biostratigraphic implications of the faunal assemblages. Indian Miner 2006, 60(1-2), 69-80.

The records of Quaternary vertebrates of southern India are analysed with a view to identification of faunal assemblages. The age of the Quaternary mammalian assemblages of southern India is discussed with reference to tephra-bearing sequences. This tephra unit, considered a correlative to the 75,000-yr-old Youngest Toba Tuff (YTT), readily permits the grouping of Quaternary vertebrates from southern India into pre- and post-tephra assemblages. The pre-tephra assemblage, Hippopotamus deccanensis - Equus namadicus - Elephas namadicus, covers later part of the Middle Pleistocene and early part of the Upper Pleistocene. The post-tephra assemblage comprising Equus onager khur, Hystrix crassidens and Crocuta sp. with advanced dental characters is of Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene age. These assemblages are compared and correlated with the faunal zones reported from the Narmada Valley. The pre-tephra assemblage in southern India is apparently younger to the older faunal zone of the Narmada Valley. The post-tephra assemblage compares well with the younger faunal zone of the Narmada Valley.

3 illus, 3 tables, 34 ref

008172   Rai J;Garg R (Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, Road Univ, P.O. Box 106, Lucknow-226 007, Email: jyotsana_rai@yahoo.com) : Early Callovian nannofossils from the Kuldhar section, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Curr Sci 2007, 92(6), 816-20.

Jurassic nannofossils are scarcely known from the Indian subcontinent. Reports a well-diversified and moderately preserved Early Callovian nannofossil assemblage comprising twenty-one species recovered from the Kuldhar Member, Jaisalmer Formation, Raja-sthan, western India, which is exposed along the banks of the Masrudi river, adjacent to the ruins of the Kuldhar village. The assemblage demonstrates a typical Tethyan aspect and can be precisely calibrated with standard low-latitude nannofossil Ansulasphaera helvetica (NJ 12) zone. The Kuldhar Member is rich in mega and microfossils, including datable ammonoids, brachiopods, pelecypods, benthic foraminifera, ostra-cods, nannofossils and ichnofossils. Though the age of these sediments is traditionally based on ammonoid evidences, nannofossils provide another potentially reliable tool for dating and correlation.

4 illus, 1 table, 31 ref

008171   Prasad V R;Verma O;Sahni A;Krause D W;Khosla A;Parmar V (Geology Dep, Jammu Univ, Jammu-180 006, Email: pguntupalli@redifmail.com) : New late cretaceous gondwanatherian mammal from central India. Proc Indian Natn Sci Acad 2007, 73(1), 17-24.

A new gondwanatherian mammal cheek-tooth recovered from the Upper Cretaceous Deccan intertrappean beds of Kisalpuri, Dinodori District in Madhya Pradesh (state), central India is described here. The new tooth (VPL/JU/IM/33), along with a previously described tooth (VPL/JU/NKIM/25), is placed in Bharattherium bonapartei gen. et sp. nov. The palaeobiogeographic implications and functional aspects of gondwanatherian mammals are discussed in light of the discovery of this new taxon.

4 tables, 25 ref

008170   De C (Central Palaeontology Div -I, , Geological Survey of India, 15 Kyd Street, Kolkata-700 016) : Vindhyan trace fossils, dubiofossils and pseudofossils in the light of advent and early evolution of metazoans. Indian Miner 2006, 60(1-2), 1-38.

Reports that trace fossil-dubiofossil-pseudofossil transition, according to a newly proposed "critical zone concept", for the Proterozoic lebensspuren having simplest bauplans is confined within a low and narrow range of degradation values relative to that of the highly developed, morphologically complex, well ornamented and substrate penetrative Phanerozoic lebensspuren. This concept explains the referred time lag in the Proterozoic trace fossil distribution round the world and calls for a more cautious approach in interpreting ancient traces with required extent of rewinding of the information lost at different stages in the geological time.

17 illus, 97 ref

008169   Chaudhari P R;Satyanarayan S;Verma S; Kotangale J P;Wate S R (NO, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur-440 020) : Limnological studies on brackish water crater lake at Lonar, Maharashtra. Indian J envir Prot 2007, 27(2), 97-103.

Lonar lake, which is one of the largest Crater lakes in the world, is situated in Buldhana district of Maharashtra State. There is no outlet for the lake water and the only way of water loss from lake appears to be evaporation, which has resulted in accumulation of salts in the lake water since its formation making it brackish. Limnological survey of lake was carried out to understand the unique ecosystem. The source for eutrophication of the lake is observed to be the run-off water from a small patch of agriculture in the catchment area and from other areas. The lake water was observed to be highly saline and alkaline in nature with nutrient enrichment and marginal level of organic pollution. It was interesting to note that ground water table around Lonar lake was not deteriorated due to seepage of Lonar lake water. Lonar lake was observed to support dense bloom of phytoplankton dominated by Spirulina plantensis, a protein rich blue-gree alga of commercial importance. Fish and zooplankton species were not recorded in the lake due to high salinity and low dissolved oxygen content. Physico-chemical characteristics of lake water responsible for the formation of blue-green algal bloom are discussed.

2 tables, 13 ref

004294   Subba Rao D V;Khan M W Y;Sridhar D N;Naga Raju K (NO, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad-560 007) : New find of younger dolerite dykes with continental flood basalt affinity from the meso-neoproterozoic Chhattisgarh basin, Bastar craton, Central India. J Geol Soc India 2007, 69(1), 80-4.

Younger and fine-grained unmetamorphosed dolerite dykes intrude the Raipur Group sediments in the central part of the Meso-Neoproterozoic Chhattisgarh Basin in Central India. Pelrologically these dykes consist of unaltered microphenocrysts of intermediate pigeonite (X_mg=0.40), augite (X_mg=0.595), calcic plagioclase (X_ca=0.64), titanomagnetite and ilmenite. These rocks show high Fe₂O₃^T (14.43 to 15.19%), TiO₂ (2.75 to 2.87%) and P₂O₅ (0.27 to 0.29%) contents with an unusual Continental Flood Basalt (CFB) affinity. Significantly these dykes show lower K₂O content (0.43%). The trace element abundance such as Ba, Sr, Rb, Zr, Nb and trace element ratios Sm/Nd, Ba/Nb, Zr/Nb, Y/Nb, Th/Yb, Ta/Yb and K/Ba in these rocks chemically resemble the least contaminated Deccan Basalts. Chondrite/OIB normalized REE patterns of these rocks also show striking similarities with the Deccan tholeiitic basaltic flows. The available petrological, mineralogical, major, trace and rare earth element data indicate that these within basin basaltic dykes of Raipur are intraplate basalts, which were derived from an enriched mantle source.

5 illus, 3 tables, 7 ref

004293   Sharma C;Chauhan M S;Sinha R (Geology Dep, Lucknow Univ, Lucknow-226 007, Email: chhaya_sharma@rediffmail.com) : Studies on holocene climatic changes from Priyadarshini Lake sediments, East antarctica: the palynological evidence. J Geol Soc India 2007, 69(1), 92-6.

Pollen analysis of a sediment core from Priyadarshini Lake (Core S3), East Antarctica, has revealed the climatic oscillations in the region since Holocene. Three pollen zones have been identified on the basis of recovered pollen taxa and varying frequencies. Between 10,000 and 9,000 yr BP, cold and dry climate prevailed in the region as reflected by the dominance of grasses, Acritarch and very low frequencies of Cosmarium - a fresh water alga. The lake was probably shallow and smaller in dimension during this period. Between 9,000 to 2,400 yr BP, relative increase in grasses is witnessed though in fluctuating frequencies. Cosmarium also exhibits a distinct increasing trend, whereas Acritarch declines considerably. This overall change in the assemblage reflects the onset of warm and moist climate and the lake had a wider expansion during this phase on account of amelioration in climate than witnessed before. Between 2,400 and 1,000 yr BP, relatively reduced frequencies of grasses, coupled with total disappearance of Cosmarium, demonstrate that the climate changed once again to cold and dry. However, 1,000 yr BP onwards, marked increase in grasses coupled with exceedingly high values of Cosmarium implies that the climate ultimately turned warm and moist.

2 illus, 2 tables, 14 ref

004292   Nath T T;Yadagiri P (NO, , Geological Survey of India, N.E.R, Shillong-793 003) : New mammal-like reptile (Cynodontia) from upper triassic maleri formation of Pranhita-Godavari valley, Andhra Pradesh. J Geol Soc India 2007, 69(1), 57-60.

Fossil remains of mammal-like reptiles (cynodonts) are recorded for the first time from the Upper Triassic Maleri Formation of Pranhita-Godavari Valley. The collection includes five well preserved specimens of postcanine teeth. In the shape of the crown, separation of cusps, absence of a constriction between crown and root, and incipient '' division of the root, the teeth closely resemble that of Microcondon. It is described as Deccanodon maleriensis gen. et. sp. nov and discussed. Early Jurassic mammals belonging to symmetrodont and triconodontid groups were earlier reported from the Kota Formation. The present discovery of cynodont teeth from older stratigraphic horizon (Triassic) assumes importance, as the study will help in understanding the origin and evolution of early mammals.

2 illus, 14 ref

004291   Jayendra Singh;Yadav R R (Institute for Botany and Landscape Ecology, Greifswald Univ, Greifswald, Germany, Email: jayendra1673@yahoo.co.uk) : Dendroclimatic potential of millennium-long ring-width chronology of Pinus gerardiana from Himachal Pradesh, India. Curr Sci 2007, 93(6), 853-6.

Developed a 1087-yr (AD 919-2005; so far the longest) chronology of Pinus gerardiana (chilgoza pine) from Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh using 15,083 annual ring-width measurements from 35 increment cores. The tree growth-climate relationship using response-function analyses indicated that precipitation, except for the months of January, February and October, has a direct relationship with growth. However, this relationship was significant for previous year's October and current year's February, March, May and June. Mean monthly temperature showed largely negative relationship with growth, except for June and August-October. The longevity and climate sensitivity of this species shows its potential in developing millennium-long climatic reconstructions needed for understanding the long-term climate variability in the Himalayan region.

5 illus, 17 ref

004290   Jaitly A K;Mishra S K (Invertebrate Palaeontology Lab., Geology Dep, Banaras Hindu Univ, Varanasi-221 005, Email: anandjaitly@yahoo.co.in) : Approaches to palaeoecology: a case study from the late cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) benthic bivalves of Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu. J Geol Soc India 2007, 69(1), 97-120.

Palaeoecology has now become an imperative source for the palaeontologists in basin studies. The different concepts/principles and practices till recently used in palaeoecological investigations are reviewed and the organism-community concept, due to its simplicity and more practicalibilty than holistic concept, is followed here. About 1,300 bivalves have been collected from the Campanian-Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) sediments exposed in and around Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu. These benthic bivalves belong to four associations (determined by Q-mode cluster analysis). The trophic behaviour of these bivalves depicts that epifaunal suspension-feeders more or less dominated throughout the Campanian-Maastrichtian times and preferred firm fine- to medium- sandy carbonate substrates. Rarefaction, richness and evenness have been used to determine the diversity values of different associations, which vary from high to low. The different palaeosynecological approaches indicate that the Campanian Sillakkudi Formation reflects relatively low energy conditions in comparison to younger horizons (Maastrichtian) of the sub-basin where bivalves apparently colonized a shifting high-energy substrate. The palaeosalinity from the Sillakkudi Fromation up to the Ottakkovil Formation ranged between brachyhaline to euryhaline with temporary phases of hypersaline conditions. The uppermost Kallamedu Formation was deposited in an oligohaline salinity regime or even in a fresh water environment. The worldwide Late Ctretaceous rise in the sea level is evidenced in the Cauvery basin by maximum flooding during the Middle Maastrichtian. Sedimentation took place in a high energy, neritic carbonate ramp setting. The carbonate ramp was replaced by a siliciclastic ramp in the late Middle Maastrichtian (Ottakkovil Formation).

17 illus, 8 tables, 93 ref

003645   Srivasatava P (Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Lucknow University, Lucknow-226 020, Email: purnimasrivastava_51@rediffmail.com) : Trachyhystrichosphaera: an age-marker acanthomorph from the Bhander group, upper Vindhyan, Rajasthan. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(5), 575-82.

Highly diversified, advanced and exceptionally well preserved microfossil assemblage, dominated by a planktic community, has been recorded from petrographic thin sections of chert belonging to the Sirbu Shale Formation, Bhander group, upper Vindhyans, Rajasthan. Recently, it was noticed that the assemblage also contains well preserved, large-sized acanthomorphic acritarchs, Trachyhystrichosphaera considered to be an age-marker microfossil of the Cryogenian (850 -630 Ma). It is reported for the first time from any Indian microfossil assemblage of Proterozoic succession. The other microfossils of the Sirbu Shale Formation are well preserved simple, small and large-sized sphaeromorphs; complex acanthomorphs, cyanobacterial community; especially a very small-sized but exceptionally well preserved. Obruchevella, a form resembling Vol vox colonies; cf. vase-shaped microfossils and morphologies, possibly inclining towards fungal affinity, or lichen-like symbiotic associations of algae and fungi. Till date, Trachyhystrichosphaera has so far not been reported from successions older than the Tonian (1000 -850 Ma).It is believed that acantho-morphs attained maximum size in Ediacaran (630 -542 Ma), and further decreased in size in the Cambrian. The global paleontological literature indicates that Trachyhystrichosphaera ranges in age from Tonian-Ediacaran (1000-542 Ma). The present record of Trachyhystrichosphaera as well as the earlier studies of micro and megascopic life of the Bhander Group in general and the Sirbu Shale in particular (aided by the absence of any Cambrian fossil record) indicate that in all possibilities, age of the Sirbu Shale should lie near Cryogenian (850 -630 Ma) and the uppermost Bhander group,may incline towards the Ediacaran (630 -542 Ma).

4 illus, 1 table, 48 ref

003644   Das S S;Tripathi M K (Earth and Planetary Sciences Dep, Nehru Science Centre, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211 002, Email: siddharthasankar_das@yahoo.co.in) : Trace fossils from Talchir carbonate concretions, Giridih basin, Jharkhand. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(1), 89-100.

Carbonate concretions occurring at the bottom of Talchir ?ssile shale facies preserved signatures of various trace fossils along with a cast of doubtful organisms and cyanobacterial mat structures. The host shale deposited under glacial melt water fed lacustrine condition. The concretions, formed in poorly oxygenated conditions, are either of syndepositional origin and/or deposited a little below the sediment water interface and were later exhumed to the depositional surface due to erosion of soft mud overlying them. The trace fossils are both megascopic and microscopic in nature. The megascopic trace fossils are identi ?ed on the basis of their morphology as Monocraterion and Rhizocorallium Some of the megascopic structures described remain problematic at present. The microscopic trace fossils are formed due to the activity of marine meiofauna (possibly by nematodes), which, although produced morphologically show similar traces of known larger ichnogeneras but much smaller than them. The discovery of these trace fossils apparently indicate the influx of saline water into a lacustrine domain during the Talchir sedimentation at Giridih basin. Moreover, presence of the above two megascopic trace fossils in the marine lacustrine carbonate concretions may lead researchers to consider their much wider environmental significance than hitherto believed.

1 illus, 2 tables, 54 ref

002328   Som S K;Shivgotra V;Saha A (Earthquake Geology Div, Geological Survey of India, Eastern Region, DK-Block, Sector-II, Salt Lake City, Kolkata-700 091, Email: aksom@rediffmail.com) : Coral microatoll as geodetic tool in north Andaman and little Andaman, India. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(2), 157-62.

Coral microatolls were examined from North Andaman and Little Andaman to understand the relative sea level change due to vertical tectonic deformation above the subduction interface. The highest level of survival of coral microatoll before the 26 December, 2004 earthquake at eastern roast of North Andaman has been determined by Global Ocean Tide Model. The present position of recently dead flat top microatoll with preserved internal structure at the eastern coast of North Andaman mainland indicates 31.21 cm uplift due to the 26 December. 2004 earthquake. Comparatively old cup shaped microatoll at the eastern fringe of North Andaman group of islands and highly bioeroded fossil mieroatolls at the intertidal zone of Little Andaman bear the signature of permanent vertical deformation in the past.

7 illus, 16 ref

002327   Lone S A;Yadav A S;Bajaj A;Mir F A;Sharma A K;Uikey S K (Molecular Biology and Seed Technology Laboratory, Govt. Motilal Vigyan Mahavidyalaya (MVM), Bhopal-08) : Thidiazuron induced high-frequency shoot regeneration from nodal explants in Adathoda vasica Nees.. Asian J expl Sci 2010, 24(2), 213-8.

To improve shoot regeneration and proliferation methods for Adathoda vasica Nees., the present study was initiated to test the effect of thidiazuron (TDZ; N-phenyl-N'-l,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea)) on shoot regeneration in nodal explants of Adathoda vasica Nees. The medium for propagation contained MS salts, B5 vitamins, 30 g 1^-1 sucrose and 8.0 g 1^-1 agar (designated as MSB medium). The effect of thidiazuron (TDZ; N-phenyl-N'-l,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea) in the culture medium was found to be superior to the combined treatments of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). In the combined treatment of BAP and NAA the highest number of shoots 16 per nodal explants occurred at 2.0 mg 1^-1 BAP with 0.5 mgl^-1 NAA after 7 weeks of incubation. However, in the sole presence of TDZ the highest number of shoots 20 per nodal explants occurred at 0.5 mg^-1 TDZ after 7 weeks of incubation. The shoot proliferation increased significantly up to 24 shoots per nodal explants on MSB medium supplemented with combined treatments of TDZ, BAP and NAA. In-vitro produced shoots exhibited good rooting response in MSB medium supplemented with different concentrations of auxins. After 20 days of hardening of plantlets almost 99% of rooted plants could be successfully transferred and acclimatized ex-vitro under poly-house conditions, followed by their establishment in the field.

1 illus, 2 tables, 20 ref

001241   Talib A;Faisal S M S (Geol Dep, AMU, Aligarh-202 002) : On the occurrence of microfossils (foraminiferida) in the jurassic rock of ler dome, Kutch mainland, Gujrat. Curr Sci 2007, 92(5), 595-6.

2 illus, 19 ref

001240   Mehrotra R C;Paul A K;Verma S K (Birbal Sahni Inst, , Paloaeobot, 53, Univ Rd, Lucknow-226 007) : Plant remains from the disang group of Wokha district, Nagaland, India. Curr Sci 2007, 92(5), 597-8.

2 illus, 14 ref

001239   Maheshwari H K (NO, , D-2228, Indira Nagar, Lucknow 226 016, Email: hetramrathi@yahoo.co.in) : Deciphering angiosperm origins. Curr Sci 2007, 92(5), 606-11.

Data generated to provide answers to Darwin's 'abominable mystery', i.e. the sudden appearance, and subsequent exponential increase in diversity, of angiosperms in the fossil record are examined It is observed that as yet we do not have sufficient data either to identify ancestral forms of angio-sperms or to fix the time of their origin. In the fossil record first indubitable angiosperms appear only in the Early Cretaceous. Pollen data, however, do suggest that angiospermoid morphology appeared by Late Triassic. The possibility of polyphyletic origin of angiosperms is not ruled out.

85 ref

000226   Srivastava D K (Geology Dep, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226 007, Email: sirdkdr@rediffmail.com) : Diversity of fossil echinoids (Echinodermata) in the Indian subcontinent during the late cretaceous-Palaeogene. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 63-75.

Diversity of fossil echinoids in the Indian subcontinent with respect to the Late Cretaceous-Palaeogene palaeobiogeographic changes is discussed. The echinoid diversity in the Indian subcontinent shows an Eocene peak bounded by much lower diversities during the Cretaceous and the late Palaeogene (Oligocene) periods. The diversity remained very low through out most of the Oligocene epoch, indicating prolonged environmental deterioration related to climate cooling. Later, in the younger periods, it again increases considerably. Though the earliest report of echinoids in India and Pakistan is from the Permian sediments of Karakoram and Salt Range, they appear in appreciable numbers (from north to south) in the sediments of Jurassic succession of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kachchh. Their prolific and diversified developments, however, is noticed in the Cretaceous and lower Palaeogene sediments in many parts of the Indian subcontinent. The majorities of the fossil elements constitute the Indo-Madagascar endemic center and express affinity with the fauna of European (western) Tethys. The increased faunal diversity from the Late Cretaceous onward points to the availability of the large number of ecological niches created possibly due to the increasing influence of tropical conditions. The closeness of the Indian echinoid fauna with that of the European (western) Tethys seems to be the result of palaeobiogeographic changes brought about by the northward drift of India during the Meso-Cenozoic times.

7 illus, 11 tables, 107 ref

000225   Singh N P (NO, "Suryansh", A-5, Saket Housing Colony, Tarsali Ring Road) : Mesozoic lithostratigraphy of the Jaisalmer Basin, Rajasthan. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 1-25.

Jaisahner Basin is an integral part of a major tectonic province known as "West Rajasthan Shelf" which is located to the west of Aravalli ranges and represents the eastern shelf part of the Indus Basin. The shelf hosts a number of sedimentary basins, viz. Jaisalmer, Bikaner-Nagaur and Barmer. The study is confined 10 the detailed Mesozoic lithostratigraphy of the Jaisalmer Basin which has well documented history for Mesozoic and Cenozoic rock sequences. An exhaustive study of the surface and subsurface sedimentary sequences has been possible in this basin due to availability of voluminous subsurface data generated through drilling in course of oil exploration by ONGC. This basin represents more or less central part of West Rajasthan Shelf and occupies an area of 42,000 sq.km. Tectonically, this entire basin is divisible into four geotectonic blocks which, from north 10 south, are Kishangarh sub-basin, Jaisalmer-Mari High, Shahgarh sub-basin and Miajlar sub-basin. The Jaisalmer Basin has a thick sedimentary column of the order of 10,000 meters or so involving alternating sequences of clastics and carbonates. The Mesozoic and Ccnozoic formations arc exposed in the south-eastern part of the basin. Lithostratigraphic development in all geotectonic blocks of the basin shows slight variance at different stratigraphic levels. Three major unconformities have been mapped in the basin, which differentiate four main sequences belonging to Proterozoic-Early Cambrian, Paleozoic-Mesozoic, Tertiary and Quaternary. The basin experienced first sedimentation on igneous/metamorphic basement during Paleozoic Era. The sedimentation continued up till Recent. However, in the southern outskirts of Miajlar sub-basin, Proterozoic-Early Cambrian sediments belonging to Randha and Birmania formations arc exposed; the extensions of these formations arc expected in the Miajlar sub-basin only. In all, nine Mesozoic formations have been mapped in the basin, out of which three formations, namely Bhuana, Goru and Parh do not extend to the surface. Similarly, the Habur formation is restricted to the outcropping area except in the subsurface of the Bhuana area. Facies changes in basinward areas and thinning of certain formations in shoreward areas have been observed. The surface and subsurface sedimentary sequences could be tied up precisely based on adequate biostratigraphic control and lithostratigraphy has been standardised. Magnitude of hiatuses, unconformities and disconformities/paraconformities have been recognised. Stratotypes of all formations have been established and their depositional characters alongwith faunal and floral elements and their strartigraphic relationship with succeeding formation have been discussed.

15 illus, 60 ref

000224   Sharma M (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: sharamukund1@rediffmail.com) : Small-sized akinetes from the mesoproterozoic Salkhan limestone, Semri Group, Bihar, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 109-18.

Early Mesoproterozoic (<126>1600 Ma old) stromatolitic cherts of the Salkhan Limestone of the Semri Group, Vindhyan Supergroup exposed in Rohtas district, Bihar contain well-preserved, distinctive population of nostocalean akinetes belonging to different species of Archaeoellipsoides. These are smaller in size in comparison to other known assemblages of Archaeoellipsoides and are comparable to the akinetes of modern bloom forming Anabaena. Small-sized akinetes of heterocystous cyanobacteria display rod-shaped, ellipsoidal to spindle-shaped morphologies, with prominent intracellular mass in two species out of three. Their distribution indicates allochthonous, presumably planktic and possibly dormant resting nature. Their presence also helps in understanding the evolution of marked cell differentiation in cyanobacteria. The recognition and record of akinetes are important to trace the antiquity of Nostocales and understanding the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere in the geological past, corroborating the geochemical evidence of atmospheric oxygen level about 15% PAL for Late Palaeoprterozoic to Early Mesoproterozoic.

2 illus, 2 tables, 81 ref

000223   Sharma M (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: sharmamukund1@rediffmail.com) : Late palaeoproterozoic (Statherian) carbonaceous films from the olive shale (Koldaha shale), semri group, Vindhyan supergroup, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 27-35.

Olive Shale (Koldaha Shale) belonging to the Semri Group exposed in the Newari area of the Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh, has yielded a variety of (macroscopic) millimetric, carbonaceous films. These films can be attributed to multicellular/thalloid macroalgae that arc divided into four morphogenera and five morphospeeies viz., Changchengia stipitata Yan, 1997, Tuanshanzia lanceolata Yan, 1995, Tunshanzia platyphylla Yan 1997, Leiosphraeridia sp. and Eopalmaria prinstina Yan, 1995. It may represent the oldest megascopic carbonaceous remains from India and may belong to the select band of oldest carbonaceous macroscopic fossil assemblage found in Knob Lake Group, Canada; Michigamme Shales and Negaunee Formation, Michigan, USA and Changcheng Group (Changzhougou, Chauanlinggou and Tuanshanzi Formation) of Jixian, north China.

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