Taxonomic Study of <i>Faviidae</i> Family- Quaternary Corals of Okha-Mandal Taluka, Saurashtra Coast, Gujarat

Abstract

Quaternary corals present in Saurashtra coast basically belong to Scleractinia Group and are of Asteroid, Cereoid and Trochoid types. Total seven families have been identified in the study area. Out of seven families the family Faviidae has been found most abundant and widely distributed in the entire area. It alone contributes 75% of the total individuals. Lithostratigraphically, the strata have been grouped into Gaj, Dwarka and Chaya formations. The Faviidae corals are mostly present in the Chaya Formation as well as in the Holocene deposits along the coast. This family consists of six genera and sixteen species. Results of radiocarbon dating indicate that all the corals of Kachchh belongs to Pleistocene- Holocene period (12,000 to 45,000 years B.P.). The present paper summarizes the taxonomy study of the Favid corals.