004636   Sinha V K;Kumar U;Ali M H;Verma R (Department of Zoology, Patna Science College, Patna-800 005) : The occurence of diabetes among the people of Patna district through epidemiological survey. Mendel int J 2005, 22(1-2), 53-4.

Among 50 human individuals of different geographical area of Patna district shows the prevalence of disease by 60% with positive sign and 40% with no sign of disease in their clinical & pathological check up. Communication with population indicate a high intake of tea starting from very young age. This high prevalence of disease indicate a need to examine other source of disease including diet.

9 ref

003496   Rao M R (Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-22, , , Email: rao_mr_2000@yahoo.com) : Reworked permian and cretaceous palynofossils from miocene sediments of Mangalore, Karnataka. J Geol Soc India 2005, 66(2), 217-22.

Palynological study of the Miocene sediments exposed along Kullur-Kavur Road section, Mangalore, Karnataka revealed the occurrence of 11 genera and 16 species of reworked palynofossils. Of these, Permian palynotaxa (8 genera and 11 species) are better represented than the Cretaceous ones (3 genera and 5 species). The important reworked palynotaxa are Parasaccites, Striatopodocarpites, Rhizomaspora, Scheuringipollenites, Callialasporites and Alisporites and these palynomorphs usually occur in Palaeozoic and Cretaceous rocks and do not extend to Tertiary. Based on the reworked palynofossils, occurrence of Permian and Cretaceous deposits in Mangalore basin has been postulated. The occurrence of reworked palynofossils might have been derived by the erosion of some Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sediments existing at the time of sedimentation. Presence of huge Permian sediments in western India, which could have been the other source for the reworked palynomorphs. The other possibility is that these fossils might have also come from Middle East Countries. Permian and particularly the Mesozoic rocks are well developed in these countries and of the Mesozoic rocks are abundantly rich in oil sediments. These sediments could have eroded and redeposited in the eastern coast of the Arabian sea.

2 illus, 1 table, 26 ref, 1 pl

003495   Anantharaman S;Dassarama D C;Ashok Kumar P (Palaentology Division, Geological Survey of India, Hyderabad-560 068, Email: gsihyd@hyd.ap.nic.in) : A new species of quaternary hippopotamid from Bhima valley, Karnataka. J Geol Soc India 2005, 66(2), 209-16.

A nearly complete skull of a fossil hippopotamus collected from the Quaternary alluvial deposits in the Bhima valley in Karnataka, India, is described. Comparison with known Indian forms along with other species of this genus established that the present from is a hitherto unknown species, named as Hippopotamus deccanensis sp. nov.

2 illus, 3 tables, 16 ref

002432   Chougule M P;Vagyani B A (Bot Dep, Smt. Kasturbai Walchand Coll, Sangli-416 416) : A new species of Zalesskioxylon from the Kamthi formation of Chandrapur district, Maharashtra. Adv Pl Sci 2005, 18(1), 403-8.

Paper records a new species of fossil gymnospermous wood Zalesskioxylon mahabalei sp. Nov. from Nandori, district Chandrapur, Maharashtra state. It is characterised by uniseriate xylem rays. Presence of xylem parenchyma, radial pits, uniseriate circular pits, uniseriate pits occasionally biseriate, biseriate circular alternate pits, multiseriate circular alternate pits 1-2 seriate and 2-6 small circular field pits.

8 illus, 1 table, 11 ref

001226   Banerjee M;Hait A K (Dep of Bot, Univ of Calcutta, Kolkata-700 019, Email: manjubanerjee@rediffmail.com) : Palynostratigraphic zonations with emphasis on eco-climatic analysis to resolve major-minor environmental changes in the early permian sediments of Saharjuri basin, Jharkhand. J Geol Soc India 2005, 65(4), 411-27.

Palynostratigraphic analyses of the Lower Gondwana sediments in the Saharjuri basin, Deoghar group of coalfields, Jharkhand recognize fifteen palynostratigraphic zones (PNSJ T, PNSJ I - XIV). The palynostratigraphic zones have been compared with the known lithostratigraphic zones of the basin and suggest upper Karharbari Formation for the Saharjuri coal seam nos. CH. I - II and Barakar Formation for the rest of the coalseams viz., Colony to Damagara CH.III - CH.XIV. Each of the palynostratigraphic zone represents a characteristic ecological phase of deposition. The palynostratigraphic zones have been identified on the basis of the stratigraphically restricted occurrence of quantitatively dominant and qualitatively significant taxa in the palynoassemblages. Altogether fifteen such zones are recognised viz., Ecol. Ph. PNSJ T and I-XIV. These fifteen Eco- palynostratigraphic zones were deposited under the influence of major climatic phases viz. cool climatic phase (Cl. Ph. I), temperate climatic phase (Cl. Ph. II) and warm climatic phase (Cl. Ph. III). The temperate climatic phase Cl. Ph. II is the most prolonged phase of deposition in the Saharjuri basin; this phase however has record of three minor but distinct sub-phases of climatic fluctuations. The sub-phases are stratigraphically restricted and represent characteristic palynoassemblages. One of the ecological phases viz., Ecol. Ph, PNSJ XII is distinct from the other ecoassemblages in the qualitative and quantitative abundance of taxa of brackish to marine environment. This minor phase of deposition is identified as Marine Transgression in the essentially continental facies of deposition. The stratigraphic horizons with characteristic assemblage of clearly distinguishable minor Eco-Climatic zones are identified as 'Marker Horizons'. The major and minor climatic ecological phases sub-phases, ecological phases of Marine Transgression, identified as the Marker Horizons in the Saharjuri basin closely correspond with the similar sequential changes of climatic and ecological phases of Marker Horizons in the adjoining Rajmahal basin and other basins of India and Early Permian of Bhutan in the eastern Indian subcontinent.

4 illus, 5 tables, 74 ref

024270   Raghav S;Malmgren B A (Paleontol Div, , Marine Wing, Geological Survey of India, 8Th Floor, Bhuvigyan bhavan, DK-6, Salt Lake City, Kolkata-700 091, Email: sanjeevraghav63@yahoo.com) : Globigerinoides ruber - a reliable proxy for late quaternary climatic changes in the SE Bay of Bengal. J Geol Soc India 2006, 68(3), 407-23.

Good correlation between the relative abundance of G. ruber and estimated sea surface temperatures (SST's) is documented for the Late Quaternary sequence in five deep-sea cores from the northern 90°E Ridge, SE Bay of Bengal (6-9°N latitude; water depths: 2492 - 3033 m). The relative abundance of G. ruber is high during the warmer penods of Holocene, and low during the colder Late Pleistocene surface temperatures. Sea surface temperatures estimated from the planktonic foraminiferal census data using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN's) have upper and lower limits of 29.9 and 27.8°C respectively for summer and winter during the Mid-Holocene and 27.5°C and 26.5°C during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The relative abundance data of G. ruber; estimated SST's, stable isotope composition of G. ruber from adjacent locations, radiocarbon dates and inferred oxygen isotopic ages, have been used to demonstrate the reliability of this species as an indicator of Late Quaternary climate change in the SE Bay of Bengal. Five climatic events (EI-E5), correlatable with the Late Quaternary marine and terrestrial records of the Indian subcontinent, have been identified on the basis of depletion and abundance of G. ruber. Three cold events (EI, E3 and E5), characterized by a relative decrease in the abundance of G. ruber, are centered around 18±1, 11±1 and 2.25±0.75 ka B.P. The intervening warm events (E2 and E4), showing a relative increase in the ab.undance of G. ruber, are documented around 14.5±0.5 and 6±1 ka B.P. This study also records the first direct faunal evidence of the equivalent of the Younger Dryas cooling phase, identified as event E3 in the Bay of Bengal. The end of the E3 cold event at around 10 ka B.P. has been identified as the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary.

8 illus, 2 tables, 75 ref

024269   Kale V S;Baker V R (Geography Dep, Univ of Pune, Pune-411 007, Email: vskale@unipune.ernet.in) : Extraordinary period of low-magnitude floods coinciding with the little ice age: palaeoflood evidence from Central and Western India. J Geol Soc India 2006, 68(3), 477-83.

Fluvial archives include slackwater flood' deposits (SWD), which not only preserve information about centennial- to millennial-scale changes in the flood regime conditions, but also provide information on climate variability and extreme climatic events. The study is based on SWD evidence from six large rivers in central and western India. A remarkable feature that has emerged from the palaeoflood analyses is that the evidence of large floods between circa 14th and 19th century AD is generally missing. Considering the manner in which the rivers build the palaeoflood sequences in stable bedrock gorges, the striking and conspicuous absence of flood deposits of this period indicates a significantly reduced frequency of large floods. Since modem floods on these rivers are the result of severe cyclonic storms, the absence of large palaeofloods not only implies a sharp decline in the frequency of flood-producing severe cyclonic systems, but also an overall decrease in the summer monsoon intensity. Interestingly, this period of less frequent large floods (ca. 14th-19th century AD) approximately coincides with the Little Ice Age (1300 to 1850 AD), which was characterized by relatively cool and dry conditions, and a weakening of the Indian summer monsoon.

5 illus, 2 tables, 30 ref

024268   Deotare B C (Archaeol Dep, Deccan Coll Postgraduate and Res Inst, Deemed Univ, Pune-411 006, Email: prag21@vsnl.net) : Late holocene climatic change: archaeological evidence from the Purna basin, Maharashtra. J Geol Soc India 2006, 68(3), 517-26.

Recent excavations at two archaeological sites in the Puma Basin of Vidarbha region have brought to light interesting results on the climatic change during the Late Holocene. These sites are located along the Puma River, a major tributary of the Tapi which flows through Amravati, Akola and Buldhana districts and forms a furrow shaped basin with 5 to 50 m thick exposed alluvium. Recent explorations have added 15 new sites to this region. Bhon and Paturda are amongst them. This region experienced prosperity in terms of economic, social and cultural growth during the Satavahana period (200 BC to 200 AD) at Bhon and decadence after about 500 AD, i.e., post-Gupta period up to 900 AD as revealed at Paturda. This down-fall within 1000 years' time span in the most fertile region of Maharashtra was a major set-back. One of the probable reasons for the cultural deterioration may be climate as evident from the archaeological findings from the above-mentioned sites. The present semi-arid zone of the Puma Basin (average annual rainfall- 800 mm) might have experienced substantially increased rainfall during the Late Holocene as indicated by the recovery of charred rice grains, rice husk impressions over bricks, clay lumps etc.

8 illus, 1 table, 46 ref

024267   Das M;Gupta A K;Anderson D M (Geol and Geophys Dep, Indian institute of Technol, Kharagpur-721 302, Email: anilg@gg.iitkgp.ernet.in) : Deep-sea paleoceanographic and surface productivity changes in the northwestern Arabian sea driven by the Indian sourthwest monsoon during the last millennium. J Geol Soc India 2006, 68(3), 387-94.

Analyzes a 1000-year census record of benthic foraminifera in core RC 2730 (water depth 698 m), off the Oman Margin, northwestern Arabian Sea, to understand the influence of surface productivity on bottom water environments in response to changes in the intensity of the southwest (SW) monsoon winds. Employed knowledge of the ecology of recent deep-sea benthic foraminifera from different ocean basins for environmental interpretation of benthic assemblages. Benthic faunal data suggest that the interval 1200 - 1400 A.D. is marked by an increased influx of organic matter to the northwestern Arabian Sea floor that resulted from higher surface productivity during a stronger SW monsoon. This interval corresponds to the Medieval Warm Period and a wet phase in India. The organic flux was low during the Little Ice Age (1450-1850 A.D.) when the SW monsoon was weak. Over the last millennium, the SW monsoon was weakest during the Maunder Minimum, and since then it has shown a continuous intensification, coinciding with increased surface air temperatures.

4 illus, 1 table, 55 ref

023238   Kishore S;Misra P K;Jauhri A K;Singh S K (Botany Dep, Univ of Lucknow, Lucknow-226 007, Email: shyamk2001@rediffmail.com) : Palaeocene coralline algae from the Cauvery basin, south India. J Geol Soc India 2006, 68(5), 789-96.

Deals with new records of the seven coralline algae of the Ninniyur Formation which is considered to range from the Danian to Thanetian in age. All these seven species, i.e. Spongites sp. 2 Rasser & Pillar 1999, Lithothamnion grahami, Mesophyllum obsitum. Mesophyllum korilzae, Leptophytum leave, Lithophyllum sp. Johnson & Kaska, 1965, Axiophyllum paraphylloides are reported for the first time from the Indian successions; their palaeogeographic and palaeoecological significance is discussed.

1 illus, 1 table, 32 ref

023237   Agarwal A;Mandaokar B D (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: anilagarwal_in@yahoo.com) : Fossil fruit resembling Terminalia belerica (Gaertn.) Roxb. from Sesawng, Bhuban formation (Lower Miocene), Aizawl District, Mizoram₁. Phytomorphology 2007, 57(1-2), (NULL).

Fossil fruit recovered from Sesawng (Lat. 23° 44' N; Long. 92° 52' E) belonging to Bhuban Formation (Lower Miocene) from Aizawl District, Mizoram is described. The fruit is ovoid, 25mm . in length, 18mm in breadth and obscurely five angled. The general morphology of the fruit resembles Terminalia belerica (Gaertn.) Roxb. This is the first record of fossil fruit of Terminalia Linn. from the Tertiary sediments of India or elsewhere. The presence of this taxon indicates a tropical to subtropical warm and humid climate in the area. It is described as Terminalia sesawngensis sp. nov.

2 illus, 22 ref

021343   Tiwari R P (Geology Dep, Mizoram Univ, Aizawl-796 009, Mizoram,India) : Neogene palaeontology of the surma group, Mizoram, India.2 - the tellinoidea (Mollusca : Bivalvia). J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(1), 33-42.

The Bhuban Formation, Surma Group (lower to middle Miocene) of Mizoram is rich in mega-invertebrate palaeobiota dominated by bivalves. Superfamily Tellinoidea of the Class Bivalvia is represented in these sediments by four genera viz., Tellina, Apolymetis, Gari and Solecurtus. The author has described two species of the genus Apolymetis previously. Twelve species of the genera Tellina, Gari and Solecurtus are described here for the first time, of which four are designated as new. The fossil assemblage seems to be allochthonous. The fossil assemblage indicates an overall age of Aquitanian-Helvetian for the Bhuban Formation, It also points to a sandy substrate with depth ranging from inter-tidal to 75 fathoms (135 m), and normal salinity of seawater.

3 illus, 52 ref

021342   Tiwari B N;Verma B C;Bhandari A (NO, Wadia Institute of Himalayan geology, Dehradun 248 001, Email: bntiwari@wihg.res.in) : Record of Prodeinotherium (proboscidea: mammalia) from the mid-tertiary dharmsala group of the Kangra valley, NW Himalaya, India: biochronologic and palaeobiogeographic implications. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(1), 93-100.

Authors describe a rare fossil of a large-bodied mammal from the Dharmsala Group of the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is an isolated upper premolan of Prodeinotherium, a genus of an extinct proboscidean family. The find represents the highest trophic level taxon known so far from the Dharmsala and coeval horizons and is important towards understanding the pre-Siwalik large mammals of the Himalayan region of India. The Dharmsala Group has previously yielded a rodent and atypical fish remains (Tiwari and Bhandari, 2004 and 2005). Earlier, Tiwari et al. (1991) and Feist and Tiwari (1999) studied fairly diversified associated assemblage comprising aquatic elements such as chara gyragonites, ostracods, fishes, crocodiles, etc. The new record corroborates early Miocene age assigned earlier to the fossil-yielding horizons and extends the palaeogeographical expanse of Prodeinotherium, so far known from early Miocene horizons of Pakistan, by 400 km up to the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh in the east.

4 illus, 1 table, 42 ref

021341   Shukla M;Tewari V C;Babu R;Sharma A M (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007) : Microfossil from the neoproterozoic buxa dolomite, West Siang district, Arunachal lesser Himalaya, India and their significance. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(1), 57-73.

A diversified assemblage of organic-walled microfossils comprising 31 benthic and planktic forms (cyanobacteria and acritarchs) has been recovered in petrographc thin sections from the lenses and the bedded chert belonging to the Buxa Dolomite exposed near Igo Bridge, Daring-Basar road in West Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. In this assemblage, 17 taxa of cyanobacterial remains belonging to Chroococcaceae, Nostocaceae and Oscillatoriaceae, 14 forms of acritarchs belonging to Sphaeromorphida, Scaphomorphida and Sphaerohystrichomorphida subgroups are present. The cyanobacterial remains are Huroniospora psilata; Eosynechococcus moorei; Paratetraphycus giganteus; Glenobotrydion aenigmatis; Myxococcoides minor; Palaeoanacystis suketensis; Oscillatoriopsis breviconvexa, O. robusta, Partitiofilum yakshinii, Palaeolyngbya contenala; Siphonophycus typicum, S. rugosum; Polythrychoides lineatus; Obruchevella parva; O. valdaica; Veteronostocale amoenum and Veteronostocale sp. The 14 taxa of acritarchs are Margominuscula rugosa; Granomarginata vetula; Lophosphaeridium rarum, L. jansoniusii; Trachysphaeridium robustum; Micrhystridium lanatum, M. ampliatum; Baltisphaeridium cerinum; Archaeohystrichosphaeridium semireticulatum, A. cellulare; Vandalosphaeridium reliculatum; Gorgonisphaeridium pindyium; Meghystrichoiphaerium perfectum; and Navifusa bacillaris. The present microbiota compares well with the known assemblages from the Late Neoproterozoic (Vendian) sediments of Northwest and Central Lesser Himalaya, India and its equivalent sediments in other parts of the world. The presence of both benthic and plantonic forms in the assemblage indicates deposition in lagoonal tidal flat condition whereas contact with open sea was occasionally available.

2 illus, 171 ref

021340   Rai V;Veeru Kant Singh (Geology Dep, Lucknow Univ, Lucknow-226 007, Email: vibhutirai@gmail.com:veerukantsingh@hotmail.com) : Discovery of megascopic multicellularity in deep time: new evidences from 1261.63 billion years old lower Vindhyan succession, Vindhyan supergroup, Uttar Pradesh, India. J appl Biosci 2006, 32(2), 196-203.

Tracking evidences for the multicellular life in deep time led to the discovery of exceptionally well-preserved megascopic carbonaceous fossils of the Palaeoproterozoic age from the Semri Group (~1800- 1600 million years old) of Vindhyan Supergroup. The fossil assemblage, besides being well diversified, occurs in huge number on the bedding planes of Olive Shale/Koldaha Formation. The newly discovered horizon is 300 to 400 meter below the Grypania safralis, bearing strata of the Rohtasgarh Limestone Formation dated as <126> 1600 Ma (Pb/Pb dates) and is located about 250 Km northeast of Katni near the township of Obra in central India. The carbonaceous fossils are preserved in a number of shapes namely, ribbon leaf, lanceolate, spatula etc. and range between 1 mm to 12mm in size. Few very well preserved specimes show the internal structure/tissue morphology and degradational and shrinkage morphologies as well. The megascopic size, differentiation of structures within individual fossils and possible benthic habitat suggest the advent of multicellularity in deep time around <126> 1700 million years ago. The record of earliest carbonaceous fossil of the world dates back to 1.87 billion year old Grypania spiralis from Michigan, USA. In addition to that, besides a couple of records of these remains from China that belong to the Palaeoproterozoic, most of the other records stipple the Mesoproterozpic particularly with their evolutionary explosion taking place during the Neoproterozoic. In this light of its track- record, the present discovery is significant due to the findings of a well-diversified assemblage represented by eleven taxa namely Changchegia stipitata Yan 1997, Enteromorphites siniansis Zhu and Chen, 1984, Eopalmaria pristina Yan, 1995, Flabellophyton sp., Glossophyton mucronatus Duan et Du 1985, Miaohephyton bifurcatum-Chen 1991, Protemtaenia montana Walter, Oehler and Oehler, 1976, Tuanshanzia fasciaria Yan, 1995 (emend. Yan & Liu, 1997), Tuanshanzia lanceolata Yan, 1995, Tuanshanzia platyphylla Yan and Liu, 1997, along with Chuaria circularis Walcott, 1899 (emend. Vidal & Ford,1985).The relatively well-preserved biota is a testimony to the biotic diversity that could be preserved in this rare taphonomic window. The discovery is also significant as it represent the record of macroscopic fossils from a strata, which is so far known as the oldest horizon of the Vindhyan basin yielding such fossils (Palaeoproterozoic). The present paper discusses the significance of finding in the light of other Palaeoproterozoic records of the world.

1 illus, 2 tables, 36 ref

021339   Prasad V;Garg R;Khowaja-Ateequzzaman;Indra Bir Singh;Joachimski M M (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 Univ road, Lucknow-226 007) : Apectodinium acme and palynofacies characteristics the latest palaeocene-earliest eocene of northeastern India: biotic response to the palaeocene-eocene thermal maxima (Petm) in low latitude. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(1), 75-91.

Ubiquitous predominance of Apectodinium, a presumably heterotrophic, warm water dinoflagellate, is one of the most prominant biotic response in the marginal marine realm to the warming event known as the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maxima (PETM). Global records of Apectodinium dominated assemblages associated with PETM Event are known mainly from the mid-high latitudes. The low latitude records of the Apectodinium acme coinciding with a negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE) and combined with palynofacies data from the coastal marine succession in the Khasi Hills, northeastern India (occupying equatorial palaeolatitudes) are discussed in relation to the PETM. The association of Apectodinium acme with rich and varied terrestrial organic matter indicates lowered salinity and enhanced coastal runoff in response to high precipitation leading to increased river discharge. High input of organic detritus raised surface water productivity in the stressed marginal coastal sea, conducive to proliferation of Apectodinium and other related early wetzelielloids. It is presumed that the environmental impact of PETM in the equatorial region was in the form of intense warm and humid climate with enhanced precipitation.

8 illus, 39 ref

021338   Khosla S C;Jakhar S R;Manisha Kumari;Dubey S (Geology Dep, Mohanlal Sukhadia Univ, Udaipur) : Middle jurassic ostracoda from the Jaisalmer formation, Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(1), 1-31.

Seventy-two ostracod species from the Fort and Kuldhar members of the Jaisalmer Formation, Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan, India are described and/or recorded. Thirteen species - Bythocypris rajasthanensis, Cytherella jaisalmerensis, Cytherelloidea kuldharensis, Cytheropteron lellapadiensis, C. rajasthanensis, Gulliaecytheridea grekoffi, Lophocythere mannikerii, Micropneumatocythere masurdiensis. M. rasilis, Monoceratina fortensis, M. parascrobiculata, Neurocythere kuldharensis and Progonocythere tharensis - are new. Forty-five species are assigned to already known taxa and fourteen species are left in open nomenclature. Based on the distribution of ostracods, one zone is recognized for the beds of Fort Member and three zones for the beds of Kuldhar Member. These are, in ascending order, Trichordis hadibhadangensis Range Zone (Bajocian-Bathonian), Majungaella perforata kachchhensis - Fastigatocythere falcula Concurrent Range Zone (early Callovian), Majungaella perforata kachchhensis - Galliaecytheridea remota Concurrent Range Zone (mid-late Callovian), Majungaella perforata kachchhensis - Galliaecylheridea remota Interval Zone (mid-late Callovian). The composition and age of the ostracod fauna and correlation of biostratigraphical zones with those of the Middle Jurassic of Mainland and Northern Island Belt of Kachchh are discussed. The proposed ostracod zones art also compared with foraminiferal zones established by Dave and Chatterjee (1996), for the Fort and Kuldhar members of the Jaisalmer Formation.

6 illus, 3 table 94 ref

021337   Jha N (Birbal Sahni Inst of Palaeobotany, , 53, Univ Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: Neerjajha@yahoo.co.uk) : Permian palynology from India and Africa - a phytogeographical paradigm. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(1), 43-55.

Comparison of Permian palynoflora of India and Africa has been attempted to interpret phytogeographic provincialism in Gondwana. Megafloral records from different Gondwana continents reflect a single large phytogeographic province during Permian time, wherein Glassopteris was the most characteristic element that dominated the vegetation. However, the analysis of palynological records from the gondwana continents suggests that this floristic uniformity was more apparent that real. There are differences within the region. The palynological uniformity is much pronounced during the Early Permian, whereas the differences are more striking during the Late Permian. A close similarity between India (Godavari and Satpura basins) and south-eastern half of Africa has been visualised during Late Permian on the basis of palynological records. India palynoseaquences are interestingly parallel to that of Africa rather than that of Australia. The Guttulapollenites palaeophytogeographic province has been recognised in central part of Gondwanaland extending from the Salt Range (Pakistan) in the north to the Amery Basin (Antarctica) in the south, Satpura-Godavari basins (India) in the east to Mid-Zambesi-Luangawa valley (Africa) in the west.

2 illus, 5 tables, 8 ref

021336   Dwivedi H D;Prasad M;Tripathi P P (Botany Dep, M.L.K. P.G. College, Balrampur-271 201) : Angiosperm fossil leaves from the Lower Siwalik Sediments of Koilabas area, western Nepal and their phytogeographical significance. J appl Biosci 2006, 32(2), 135-42.

Four taxa, viz., Sabia siwalica sp. nov., Mangifera someshwarica Lakhanpal & Awasthi, Bouea premacrocarpa Antal & Awasthi and B. koilabasensis Prasad have been recorded, which are phytogeographically very important as their modern equivalents presently distributed in the Indo-Malayan region. It suggests that there is a floral exchange between India and Malaya during Mio-Pliocene times after the establishment of land connection between the two countries.

2 illus 1 table, 18 ref

021335   Bajpai S;Kapur V;Thewissen J G M;Das D P; Tiwari B N (Earth Sciences Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee-247 667, Email: sunilfes@iitr.ernet.in) : New early eocene cambaythere (perissodactyla, mammalia) from the vastan lignite mine (Gujarat, India) and an evaluation of cambaythere relationships. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(1), 101-10.

New collection of cambaytheres (Perissodactyla: Mammalia) from the early Eocene (Ypresian, ca. 52 Ma) deposits at the Vastan Lignite Mine, Gujarat, is described. The collection comprises both lower and upper dentitions, posteranials, and the rostrum of a new taxon (Kalitherium marinus n. gen. and n. sp.) from a higher stratigraphic level in the Vastan Lignite Mine. These specimens expand our knowledge of the cambaythere anatomy and also help to confirm their perissodactyl affinities.

4 illus, 20 ref

021334   Agarwal A;Mahesh Prasad;Mandaokar B D (Birbal, Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow-226 007, Email: AnilAgarwal_in@Yahoo.com) : Leguminous fossil wood from the Lower Miocene Sediments of Tuipang area, Mizoram, India. J appl Biosci 2006, 32(2), 168-73.

A fossil wood showing closest resemblance with the extant taxon, Bauhinia malabarica Roxb. of the family Fabaceae has been reported from the Lower Miocene sediments of the Tuipang area, Mizoram. It is characterised by medium to large vessesls, confluent, banded parenchyma and weakly heterogeneous and storied xylem rays.

2 illus, 1 table, 34 ref

017016   Tripathi P P;Pandey P (P.G. Dep of Botany, M.L.K. (P.G.) College, Balrampur-271 201) : Leaf impressions from the Siwalik sediments of Bhutan and their climatic significance. Pl Archs 2007, 7(1), 169-74.

A rich collection of leaf impressions has been collected from the Siwalik sediments of South Eastern part of Bhutan. There are three leaf impressions which have been described here with their implications. A comparative study of the leaf impressions has been done with the modern taxa Magnifera sylvatica Roxb. (Anacardiaceae), Lagerstroemia calyculata Kurz. (Lythraceae) and Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb. (Lythraceae). These three leaf impressions indicate that tropical evergreen forest with a few moist deciduous plants may have flourished under warm humid climatic conditions in the Himalayan foot hills of Bhutan during Mio-Pliocene times.

6 illus, 30 ref

017015   Gurusamy V;Kumarasamy D (Botany Dep, Annamalai Univ, Annamalainagar-608 002, Email: dr-kumarasamy@rediffmail.com) : Fossil wood resembling Atalantia from the Cuddalore sandstone series, Tamil Nadu, India. Pl Archs 2007, 7(1), 205-06.

A few wood resembling the modern genus Atalantia of the family Rutaceae is described here from the Tertiary sediment of Tamil Nadu.

1 illus, 4 ref

017014   Gurusamy V;Kumarasamy D (Botany Dep, Annamalai Univ, Annamalainagar-608 002) : New species of Shoreoxylon from the Cuddalore series, Tamil Nadu, India. Pl Archs 2007, 7(1), 165-7.

A few fossil wood resembling the modern genus Shorea of the family Dipterocarpaceae is described here from the tertiary sediments of Tamil Nadu, India.

1 illus, 9 ref

014857   Prasad M (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow-226 007, Email: mahesh_bsip@yahoo.com) : Siwalik plant fossils from the Himalayan foot hills of Himachal Pradesh, India and their significance of palaeoclimate. Phytomorphology 2006, 56(1-2), 9-22.

The systematic study on plant fossils comprising mostly leaf impressions and a fruit wing from the Lower Siwalik sequence of Himachal Pradesh, India revealed the presence of nine new fossil taxa. They are comparable to Fissistigma wallichii, Cratoxylon prunifolium Dyre (Clusiaceae), Hydnocarpus alpinus Wight (Flacourtiaceae), Anisoptera curtisi King. (Dipterocarpaceae), Trichilia connaroides W. & A. (Meliaceae), Meliosma pinnata Hook. f. (Sabiaceae), Millettia pachycarpa Benth. (Fabaceae), Ficus benjamina Linn. (Moraceae) and Amesoneuron (Arecaceae). The dipterocrpaceous fruit wing is reported for the first time from Tertiary sediments of Indian sub continents. Most of the species resembling the fossils are presently distributed in the tropical evergreen to moist deciduous forests of Western Ghat, N.E. India, Myanmar and Malayan region which suggest that warm humid climate with higher precipitation prevailed in the area during Miiddle Miocene. The presence of mixed deciduous elements in the floral composition of that area as well as the disappearance dipterocarps and other significant evergreen elements reflect the change in climatic conditions which are mainly due to further uplift of Himalaya.

2 tables, 41 ref

013670   Sen I;Bera S (Botany Department, Calcutta University, Kolkata-700 019) : Petrified wood remains from the Neogene of Tripura, India. Geophytology 2005, 35(1-2), 65-73.

Dicotyledonous fossil woods described from the Tipam Sandstones (U. Miocene) of Tripura, India include Terminalioxylong siwalicus Prakash of combretaceae, Euphorioxylon indicum Awasthi et al. of Sapindaceae, Millettioxylon pongamiensis Prakash and Bauhinia tertiara Awasthi & Mehrotra of Fabaceae, Anisopteroxylong oblongoides Yadav of Dipterocarpaceae and Anacardioxylan shardai Prakash & Tripathi of Anacardiaceae. Modern comparable forms of the fossil woods indicate the occurrence of a warm humid climate with high rate of precipitation during the growth of the Neogene forest in Tripura.

3 plates, 57 ref

013669   Juyal K P (NO, Wadia Institute of Himalyan Geology, Dehradun-248 001) : Forminiferal biostratigraphy of the early Cretaceous hundiri formation, lower Shyok area, Eastern Karakoram, India. Curr Sci 2006, 91(8), 1096-1101.

The arc sequence in the lower Shyok area comprises volcanics (Shyok Volcanics) and intra-arc basin sediments (Hundiri, Saltoro Flysch and Saltoro Molasse formations). Biostratigraphic investigations on the Hundiri Formation indicate that this lithounit contains several Aptian-early Albian orbitolinids comprising Mesorbi-tolina, Orbitolina, Praeorbitolina, Palorbitolinoides, Palo-rbitolina, ?Neorbitolinopsis and Paracoskinolina. The orbitolinid taxa from the Shyok tectonic belt are comparable with those known to occur in Ladakh, Chitral, Burzil Pass (Indo-Pak region), Afghanistan, South Tibet and Myanmar. Fossil data suggest the existence of transgressive Neo-Tethys sea during Early Cretaceous, north of the Indian Plate.

3 illus, 1 table, 21 ref

013668   Jayalakshmi K;Kumaran K P N;Nair K M;Padmalal D (Department of Geosciences, , Osaka City University, Email: kpnkumaran@hotmail.com) : Late quaternary environmental changes in South Kerala sedimentary basin, southwestern India. Geophytology 2005, 35(1-2), 25-31.

The best development of Quaternary sediments with a maximum thickness of over 80 m is ofund in South Kerala Sedimentary Basin (SKSB). With the help of lithostratigraphic and radio-carbon dates, the Quaternary sediments have been assigned to Pleistocene and Holocene units pending formal rock stratigraphic names. The oldest (42, 490±860 yr B.P.) is represented by the clay bed at the depth of 6.64 m in Eruva while the youngest (2180±70 yr B.P.) belongs to Kavnar sediments at depth of 6.50 m. The Pleistocene transgression in SKSN is dated<62>42 ky B.P. while that of Holocene is <126>7 ky B.P. Limited palynological observation on samples of six boreholes have indicated that there had been periods of abnormally high, normal and deficient rainfall during Late Pleistocene and Holocene. The relative abundance of Cullenia exarillata (Bombacaceae) pollen along with other wet evergreen forest members (Euphorbiaceae, Celastraceae etc.) at certain intervals is of great significance as they indicate prevalence of heavy rainfall and a wet period. The scarcity and even absence of the above palynological taxa at higher levels in the boreholes point towards an arid condition during the Late Holocene. The environmental changes due to climatic variations have been complimented by sedimentology, geochemistry and limited SEM studies on quartz grains.

4 illus, 2 tables, 16 ref

012614   Sharma M (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: sharmamukundl@rediffmail.com) : Palaeobiology of mesoproterozoic salkhan limestone, semri group, Rohtas, Bihar, India: systematics and significance. J Earth Syst Sci 2006, 115(1), 67-98.

Mesoproterozoic (<126> 1600 Ma Old) Salkhan Limestone (Semri Group) of the Vindhyan Supergroup, Exposed in Rohtas district of Bihar, India, preserves an abundant and varied ancient microbial assemblage. These microfossils are recorded in three distinctly occurring cherts viz., bedded chert, stromatolitic chert and cherty stromatiolites. 27 morphoforms belonging to 14 genera and 21 species have been recognized. six unnamed forms are also described. The microbial assemblage, almost exclusively composed of the remnants of cyanobacteria, is dominated by entophysalidacean members and short trichomes and can be termed as `typical Mesoproterozoic microbiotas'. The assemblage includes characteristic mat-forming scytonematacean and entophysalidacean cyanobacteria. Eoentophysalis is the dominant organism in the assemblage. Ellipsoidal akinetes of nostocalean cyanobacteria (Archaeollipsoides) and spherical unicells also occur; both are distinct from mat forming assemblage, allochthonous and possibly planktic. Co-occurrence of the microbiotas and precipitates is related to the depositional environment of the Mesoproterozoic tidal flats with high carbonate saturation.

12 illus, 132 ref

012613   Rai J (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 Univ Road, Lucknow-226 007) : Discovery of nanofossils in a plant bed of the Bhuj member, Kutch and its significance. Curr Sci 2006, 91(4), 519-26.

World-famous Mesozoic rocks of Kutch exposed in the western sector of India have been originally classified into the Patcham, Chari, Katrol and Umia formations in ascending order along with a later scheme of Jhurio, Jhumara, Jhuran and Bhuj formations. Ammonites are the best for dating marine Mesozoic succession the world over. The Kutch Mesozoic succession has been well dated through ammonoids but for its youngest ammonoid-devoid Bhuj Member, of Umia Formation, which is otherwise essentially made up of thick, bioturbated, coarse-grained sandstone and grits with enrichment of iron at places and leaf-bearing carbonaceous shales at partings. Record of datable calcareous nannofossils represented by 32 species from greyish-black shales included in the otherwise profusely burrowed and leaf, fossil-rich part of the sand-dominated Bhuj Member, is a chance discovery. A shallow, near-shore and warm-water environment of deposition is deduced for the nannofossil-yielding sediment interval of the Bhuj Member, which farther up is disconformably overlain by Deccan Traps. The present study thus supports an uninterrupted''exposed marine succession from at least Late Bajocian to early Middle Albian in the Kutch basin.

6 illus, 3 tables, 23 ref

012612   Kundal P;Humane S K (Postgraduate Department of Geology, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj, Nagpur University, Law College Square, Nagpur-440 001) : Record of Metagoniolithon (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) from the Burdigalian of Western India. Curr Sci 2006, 91(2), 221-4.

Well-preserved Metagoniolithon (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) identified as Metagoniolithon sp. has been recovered in thin sections of limestone of the Burdigalian age, the Chhasra Formation, India. By its small size, Metagoniolithon sp. differs from M. radiatum (Lamarck) Ducker, a living species. Metagoniolithon sp. is associated with rich dasycladacean algae, and this points out that the species was thriving in shallow, warm, tropical environments. The present fossil discovery of Metagoniolithon sp. is significant, as prior to this, two species of Metagoniolithon were dubiously documented from the Oligocene and the Aquitanian of Cuba. The present finding of the fossil representative of Metagoniolithon has enabled authors to extend the stratigraphic range of this genus to the Burdigalian.

3 illus, 30 ref

012611   Chakraborty S;Bhattacharya S K;Ranhotra P S; Bhattacharyya A;Bhushan R (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007) : Palaeoclimatic scenario during holocene around Sangla valley, Kinnaur northwest Himalaya based on multi proxy records. Curr Sci 2006, 91(6), 777-82.

Pollen C/N ratios and δ¹³ C_OM from a 1.2 m thick palaeo-lake deposit at Sangla, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh provide records of climatic changes during the past 10,000 years. The C/N ratios together with pollen data indicate high lake level between 10,000 and 4,000 yrs BP. Following this, an increase in δ¹³C (+2%) indicates stressed climatic conditions, whereby δ¹³ C_OM attained a value of -23%, being the maximum for the available record. This event is bracketed between 3500 and 1500 yrs BP. Subsequently, the lake underwent a few dry spells ca. 1000 yrs BP. Finally, it got completely desiccated around 800 yrs BP.

3 illus, 17 ref

012610   Bhattacharyya A;Shah S K;Chaudhary V (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 Univ Road, Lucknow-226 007) : Would tree ring data of Betula utilis be potential for the analysis of Himalayan glacial fluctuations?. Curr Sci 2006, 91(6), 754-61.

Tree rings of Birch (Betula utilis) growing along moraines around Bhojbasa, close to the snout of Gangotri glacier, Garhwal Himalaya have been analysed to assess relationships among tree growth/climate vis-a-vis glacial fluctuations. It has been noted that the growth of this tree has negative relationship with temperature of January, March and April, and direct relationship with precipitation of March, April and June, and temperature of February. Moreover, increased tree growth in recent years has also been recorded coinciding with the rapid retreat of Gangotri glacier. It could be hypothesized that the fast retreat of this glacier might be the cumulative effect of several climatic parameters which enhance tree growth, i.e. increased precipitation of March, April and June associated with increased winter temperature and low snowfall.

1 table, 9 ref

008521   Singh R S;Ratan Kar;Prasad G V R (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: rs_singh1957@yahoo.co.in) : Palynological constraints on the age of mammal-yielding Deccan intertrappean beds of Naskal, Rangareddi district, Andhra Pradesh. Curr Sci 2006, 90(9), 1281-5.

Palynological assemblage recovered from the Deccan intertrappean sediments of Naskal, Rangareddi district, Andhra Pradesh on the southern margin of Deccan volcanic province has been reported. The assemblage contains taxa assigned to Ariadnaespofites, Gabonisporites, Triporoletes, Mulleripollis, Azolla and Minerisporites, favouring a Maastrichtian age for the eutherian mammal-bearing intertrappean beds of Naskal. Fresh-water ferns dominate this assemblage, which indicates a lacustrine environment of deposition and a warm and humid climate.

2 illus, 25 ref

008520   Sarma A;Ghosh A K (Department of Geology, G.C. College, Silchar-788 004, Email: ajanta_sarma@rediffmail.com) : A new record of calcareous algae from Shella formation (Jaintia group) of South Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India. Curr Sci 2006, 90(9), 1276-81.

The Sheila Formation exposed in the southern part of Jaintia Hills comprises an alternate sequence of sand-stone and limestone members. The limestones are fossiliferous with preponderance of benthic foraminifera, e.g. Nummulitids, Alveolinids, Discocyclina, etc. The foraminiferal assemblage suggests a Early Paleocene to Middle Eocene age for the Sheila Formation. A rich assemblage of fossil calcareous algae (both non-geniculate and geniculate coralline red algae and halimedacean, udoteacean and dasycldalean green algae) has been recovered from the limestone. The non-geniculate coral-lines are represented by genera Lithothamnion, Litho-phyllum, Distichoplax, Sporolithon, Lithoporella and Spongites and geniculate corallines are represented by the genera Corallina and Jania. A few green algae, viz. Ovulites (family Udoteaceae), Halimeda (family Halimedaceae) and Actinoporella (family Acetabulari-aceae (Dasycladales)) have been recovered from the sudy area. The overall algal assemblage indicates a shallow marine environment of normal salinity.

3 illus, 1 table, 28 ref

006338   Tewari R;Jha N (NO, Birbal Sahni Inst of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007) : Occurrence of plant mega- and microfossils from Barakar and Raniganj formations of Manuguru area, Godavari Graben, Andhra Pradesh. J Geol Soc India 2006, 67(1), 101-12.

Plant mega- and microfossils are reported in the bore core 726 from Manuguru area, Godavari Graben, Andhra Pradesh. Plant megafossils Gangamopteris sp., Glossopteris indica, G. subtilis, G. sastrii, Glosspteris sp. of G. tenuinervis, Glossopteris sp. and equisetalean axes are recorded in the sediments lithologically identified as Barakar Formation while Noeggerathiopsis hislopii, Glossopteris communis and G. stenoneura occur in the sediments lithologically recognized as Raniganj Formation. Plant microfossil studies carried out in these sediments reveal presence of three palynoassemblages, one belonging to Barakar Formation at 596-636 and two belonging to Raniganj Formation at 379-580 m. A review of distribution of plant megafossils in Permian sediments of Godavari Graben reveals that the megafloral taxa of present study have been recorded for the first time from the Lower Gondwana of Godavari Graben. A comparative analysis of mega- and microfloral assemblages with the known stratigraphic age of Lower Gondwana sediments of Godavari Graben has been attempted.

1 illus, 3 tables, 56 ref

006337   Shankar K;Sitaramaiah Y;Rao C V N K (Palaeont Div Sth Region, Geol Surv of India, Hyderabad-500 068) : Late quaternary vertebrate fossils from the Sagileru valley, Andhra Pradesh. J Geol Soc India 2006, 67(3), 301-6.

In the course of Quaternary biostratigraphic study in the interior river valleys of Andhra Pradesh, vertebrate fossils belonging to Antilope cervicapra and species of Bos, Cervus and Equus have been recorded in the Sagileru valley in Cuddapah district. Fossils were found on the eroded surface of the ossiferous alluvial silts lying above a volcanic ash bed. Palaeolithic side scrappers and blades fashioned out of chert and quartzite were also found in the alluvial silts. Faunal content, nature of sediments and their position above the volcanic ash unit suggest a Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene age for the fossiliferous beds.

3 illus, 1 table, 9 ref

005227   Shah K R;Bhatt S A (Dep of Biotechnol, Hemchandracharya North Guj Univ, Patan-384 265, Email: skrlipase@yahoo.co.in) : Enzymatic potential of hydrocarbon degrading isolates from crude oil contaminated soil of North Gujarat, India. J Cell Tissue Res 2006, 6(1), 621-6.

Due to increased concern towards hydrocarbon contamination and their damaging effects on ecosystem, a number of studies have been carried out in polluted sites with two basic aims: 1). screening of potential hydrocarbon degraders and 2). the search for their biotechnological products like enzyme and biosurfactants. Twenty five strains were isolated from soil samples collected from different sites such as oil wells at Mehsana District and various petrol pumps at Patan, Himatnagar, Sathamba, Bayad, and Khedbrahma Districts of North Gujarat. The isolates were studied for their potential enzymes like lipase, amylase and protease on the basis of primary plate method measuring the zone of enzyme activity and also for hydrocarbon degradation. The production of enzymes by microorganisms assures unlimited supply of these potential industrial important products. Further, it makes possible the genesis of new enzymatic systems that cannot be obtained from plant or animal sources. Isolates were studied under different physiological conditions and their capacities of extra cellular enzyme secretion were analyzed.

2 illus, 4 tables, 24 ref

001183   Rana R S;Kumar K;Singh H;Rose K D (Dep of Geol, HNB Garhwal Univ, Srinagar-246 174) : Lower vertebrates from the late Palaeocene-earliest Eocene Akli formation, Giral lignite mine, Barmer district, Western India. Curr Sci 2005, 89(9), 1606-13.

First assemblage of lower vertebrates comprising fish, crocodilians and snakes is recorded from subsurface beds of the Akli Formation sampled from the Giral Lignite Mine about 40 km NNW of Banner in Rajasthan. The fish comprise sharks, rays, lepisosteids, osteoglossids, pycnodontids and enchodontids and include among others Squatina, Ginglymostoma, Jaekelotodus, and Gymnura, which previously were not known from the subcontinent, an unnamed new species of Dasyatis, and two unidentified pycnodontid-like teleosteans. Reptiles are represented by crocodilians and boid snakes. The fauna supports a Late Palaeocene-Lower Eocene age and a coastal marine deposition under tropical-temperate conditions.

37 illus, 1 table, 40 ref

000222   Rana R S;Kumar K;Loyal R S;Sahni A;Rose K D; Mussell J;Hukam Singh;Kulshreshtha S K (Dep of Geol, HNB Garhwal Univ, Srinagar - 246 174, Email: kumark@wihg.res.in) : Selachians from the early eocene Kapurdi formation (fuller's earth), Barmer district, Rajasthan. J Geol Soc India 2006, 67(4), 509-22.

Based on well preserved isolated teeth, nine genera and twelve species of eocene selachians (sharks and rays) are recorded and described from the Kapurdi Formation (Fuller's Earth) exposed in an open cast mine situated 3 km northeast of the Barakha village in the Barmer District, Rajasthan. The assemblage includes Notorhynchus sp.; Galeorhinus sp. 1; Galeorhinus sp. 2; Galeocerdo sp.; Physogaleus sp.; Sphyrna sp; Rhinobatos sp. 1; Rhinobatos sp.2; Dasyatis sp.; Dasyatoidea indet.; Heterotorpedo sp. and Myliobatis sp. Of these, Notorhynchus, Physogaleus, and Heterotorpedo are being reported for the first time from the Indian subcontinent. The associated fish remains are represented by Teleostei including Osteoglossidae gen. et. sp. indet., Enchodus sp., Sphyraena sp. and Diodon sp., but these will be described elsewhere after additional collections. No reptilian and mammalian remains have so far been found in the fish yielding Kapurdi beds. The Kapurdi ichthyofauna has similarities with the Upper Palaeocene-Lower Eocene fish assemblages known from the Kakara and Subathu Formations in the Himalayan foothills. It is indicative of deposition in a lagoonal near-shore environment and is consistent with the Lower Eocene age interpreted mainly on the basis of the foraminiferal assemblage.

3 illus,1 table,59 ref,2 plate

000221   Misra P K;Jauhri A K;Singh S K;Kishore S (Dep of Bot, Univ of Lucknow, Lucknow - 226 007) : Coralline algae from the fulra limestone (middle eocene) of Kachchh, Gujarat, Western India. J Geol Soc India 2006, 67(4), 495-502.

Four species of coralline algae are recognised and described from the Fulra limestone (middle Eocene). These include Sporolithon sp. 1 Bassi, 1998; Mesophyllum sp; Phymatolithon sp. Rasser & Piller, 1999 and Melobesioideae gen. et spec. indet. 1. The palaeoecological significance of the recovered algal taxa has been pointed out to indicate the scope of algal flora in palaeoenvironmental studies.

3 illus, 40 ref, 2 plates

000220   Dutta D;Ambwani K (NO, Birbal Sahni Inst of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road Lucknow-226 007, Email: debi_dutta@yahoo.com) : Occurrence of Cyperaceocarpon sahnii Gen. Et. Sp. Nov.-a fossil fruit from the deccan intertrappean beds of Mohgaon Kalan, Chhindwara district (M.P.), India. Phytomorphology 2005, 55(3-4), 165-9.

A fossil cyperaceous (sedge grass) fruit recovered from the Deccan Interfrappean beds of Mohagaon - Kalan, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh, is a tiny achene embedded in a chert piece. It is oval in shape measuring about 1 mm in length and 0.6mm wide. The pericarp of the fruit is apparently granular (LM) but under SEM it shows verrucate ornamentation. The size, shape and ornamentation of the fruit shows affinities with Cyperus of the family Cyperaceae. Occurrence of cyperaceous fruit forms first report from these sediments that indicates the presence of grasses in moist/swampy ecological environment during the time of deposition.

1 illus, 28 ref

008027   Sheeba S (NO, Sree Narayana College, Nattika, Thrissur-680 566) : Biotic environment and sand mining-a case study from Ithikkara river, south west coast of India. J Ind Pollut Control 2009, 25(2), 203-8.

Ithikkara river was blessed with unique assemblages of aquatic flora and fauna. The biological envi-ronments of the Ithikkara river is under severe stress due to indiscriminate sand mining from the active channels and the floodplain areas and other anthropogenic activities. The paper stresses the need for re-evaluation/re-examination of the biological wealth of our aquatic systems in regard to the rampant sand mining activities of Kerala rivers. This is utmost important for the conservation and better management of our aquatic ecosystems which carries the pristine water resources for the present and future generations.

3 tables, 14 ref

006898   Sharma M;Shukla Y (NO, Birbal Sahani Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: mukundsharma@bsip.res.in) : Evolution and distribution of life in the precambrian eon-global perspective and the Indian record. J Biosci, Bangalore 2009, 34(5), 765-76.

The discovery of Precambrian microfossils in 1954 opened a new vista of investigations in the field of evolution of life. Although the Precambrian encompasses 87% of the earth's history, the pace of organismal evolution was quite slow. The life forms as categorised today in the three principal domains viz. the Bacteria, the Archaea and the Eucarya evolved during this period. Reviews the advancements made in the Precambrian palaeontology and its contribution in understanding the evolution of life forms on earth. These studies have enriched the data base on the Precambrian life. Most of the direct evidence includes fossil prokaryotes, protists, advanced algal fossils, acritarchs, and the indirect evidence is represented by the stromatolites, trace fossils and geochemical fossils signatures. The Precambrian fossils are preserved in the form of compressions, impressions, and permineralized and biomineralized remains.

2 illus, 13 ref

006897   Sarkar S;Gupta A K (Geology and Geophysics Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721 302, Email: anilg@gg.iitkgp.ernet.in) : Deep-sea palaeoceanography of the Maldives islands (ODP hole 716A), equatorial Indian ocean during MIS 12-6. J Biosci, Bangalore 2009, 34(5), 749-64.

Deep-sea benthic foraminifera, planktic foraminifer Globigerina bulloides and pteropods have been quantitatively analysed in 451 samples from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 716A, to understand both surface and deep-sea palaeoceanographic changes in the equatorial Indian Ocean basin during the late Quaternary (<126> 444-151 Kyrs). Benthic foraminifera were analysed from <62>125 μ/m size fraction whereas Globigerina bulloides and pteropods were analysed from <62>>150 μm size fraction. Factor analysis of most dominant benthic foraminiferal species over the studied time span made it possible to identify three biofacies characterizing distinct deep-sea environmental settings at Hole 716A. The environmental interpretation of each species is based on the ecology of recent deep-sea benthic foraminifera. The faunal record indicates fluctuating deep-sea conditions including changes in surface productivity, organic food supply and deep-sea oxygenation linked to changing wind intensities. These changes are pronounced on glacial-interglacial time scales driven by summer monsoon winds.

8 illus, 2 tables, 87 ref

006896   Ray S;Mukherjee D;Bandyopadhyay S (Geology and Geophysics Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721 302) : Growth patterns of fossil vertebrates as deduced from bone microstructure: case studies from India. J Biosci, Bangalore 2009, 34(5), 661-72.

Bone microstructure is affected by ontogeny, phylogeny, biorriechanics and environments. These aspects of life history of an extinct animal, especially its growth patterns, may be assessed as fossil bone generally maintains its histological integrity. Recent studies on the bone histology of fossil vertebrates from India encompass different types of temnospondyls and dicynodonts from different Permian and Triassic horizons. The examined taxa show that they had distinct bone histology and varied growth patterns. The Early Triassic trematosaurids had an overall fast growth, which contrasts with that of the Middle and Late Triassic temnospondyl taxa examined. The dicynodonts on the other hand, were characterized by an overall fast growth with periodic interruptions, variable growth rates dependent on ontogeny and indeterminate growth strategy. A comparative study encompassing several neotherapsid genera including the dicynodonts shows significant evolutionary trends towards determinate growth strategy and reduced developmental plasticity.

8 illus, 55 ref

006895   Prasad G V R (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER-K), BCKV Main Campus, Mohanpur-741 252, Email: guntupalli.vrprasad@gmail.com) : Divergence time estimates of mammals from molecular clocks and fossils: relevance of new fossil finds and India. J Biosci, Bangalore 2009, 34(5), 649-59.

Presents a brief review of recent advances in the classification of mammals at higher levels using fossils and molecular clocks. It also discusses latest fossil discoveries from the Cretaceous - Eocene (66-55 m.y.) rocks of India and their relevance to our current understanding of placental mammal origins and diversifications.

2 illus, 103 ref

006894   Parcha S K;Sinhg B P (NO, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33, General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehra Dun-248 001, Email: prchask@gmail.com) : Stratigraphic significance of the Cambrian ichnofauna of the Zanskar region, Ladakh Himalaya, India. J Geol Soc India 2010, 75(3), 503-17.

The Cambrian succession in the Zanskar Basin of Tethys Himalaya contains an abundant ichnofossils like in the other Tethyan Himalayan successions. The ichnofossils are stratigraphically important as they occur below the trilobite body fossils and are useful to define the basal part of the Cambrian. The ichnofossil assemblage reported from the Zanskar Basin of Ladakh Himalaya is significant to demarcate the Early Cambrian age due to lack of other faunal elements so far. The body fossils of trilobites recorded from the overlying beds indicates the earliest part of the Middle Cambrian age. Sixteen ichnogenera identified include: Bifungites, Cruziana, Diplichnites, Dimorphichnus, Isopodichnus, Lockeia, Merostomichnites; Monomorphichnus, Psammichnites, Palaeophycus, Planolites, Rhizocorallium, Skolithos, Taphrhelminthopsis, Teichichnus, Trepitichnus and trilobite scratch marks etc. The ichnogenera reported so far from this part of the Tethyan Himalayan region belongs mostly to the traces of arthropod origin. The ichnofauna ranges in age from Lower Cambrian to late part of the Middle Cambrian. The ichnofaunal assemblage can be assigned to repichnial, cubichinial, pascichnial, to fodinichnial behaviour. The distribution of ichnofossils in the studied sections shows that the ichnofossils are predominately less in occurrence in the sections were trilobites dominates and higher in the successions the abundance of ichnofossils decreases.

4 illus, 1 table, 80 ref

006893   Mude S N;Kundal P (Geology Dep, Fergusson College, Pune-411 004) : Rare structure of fossil coralline algae from the southwest coast of India. J Geol Soc India 2010, 75(2), 380-2.

The coralline algae (Rhodophyta) are well preserved in the sediments of the Dwarka Formation in and around Porbandar area, southwest coast of India. There are few records of the preservation of genicula in the fossil coralline algae. Three algal fragments with genicula are noted and recorded from the area.

3 illus, 7 ref

006892   Hemanta Singh R K;Kishor R K (Geology Dep, Imphal College, Imphal-795 001, Email: jupiter_5@indiatimes.com) : Riccia thongjaorokensis-a new fossil liverwort from oligocene beds of the tertiary, Northeast India. J Geol Soc India 2009, 73(5), 606-8.

A fossil gametophytic thallus, resembling Riccia L., from the Barail Sandstone (Early Oligocenc) of the Thongjaorok Stream section (24°27'41"N and 93°44'40"E) of Manipur in Northeast India is reported as a new species -Riccia thongjaorokensis. Description of this new taxon is based on a cluster of 5-6 well preserved gametophytic thalli. This paper deals also with the paleoecology of the area.

2 illus, 6 ref