Early Permian Xiphosurid Trackways from India

Authors

  • Abhijit Chakraborty
     Department of Geology, Jogamaya Devi College, 96 S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata - 700 026
  • H. N. Bhattacharya
     Department of Geology and Centre of Advance Studies in Precambrian Geology, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata - 700 073

Keywords:

Trackways, Xiphosura, <I>Kouphichnium</I>, Permian, Marginal Marine.

Abstract

Present work is the first report of Early Permian xiphosurid trackways from India. Surface trackways and undertracks, preserved within ice-marginal storm-affected, shoreface sediments of the Talchir Formation, Jayanti coalbasin closely resemble Kouphichnium Nopsca 1923. Trackways reveal distinct heteropody with foliate pusher impressions, paired series of semi-circular, oval, V- or Y-shaped chilate (walking) leg impressions. Varied ventral impressions also include telson drag marks and telson dents; spine drag marks, book-gills impression, genal gouges as well as symmetric, paired lateral genal furrows, partial cubichnial impressions of prosoma and spinose opisthosoma. A tentative early Permian age (Asselian/Sakmarian) and marginal marine facies association points towards a paleolimuloidae affinity for the trace makers, which is in conformity with their inferred widths of exoskeleton, sub-rounded prosoma and subtriangular spinose opisthosoma with predictable movable spines. Flexed pusher impressions and co-dominant pincer impressions as well as, other ventral impressions in abundance, confirm crawling as their dominant mode of locomotion. Inferred presence of juvenile crawlers in the community suggests a probable shoreline or marginal marine ecospace.

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Issue

Volume 80, Issue 1, July 2012

Section

Research Articles

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Published

2012-07-07

How to Cite

Chakraborty, A., & Bhattacharya, H. N. (2012). Early Permian Xiphosurid Trackways from India. Journal of Geological Society of India, 80(1), 129–135. Retrieved from https://www.geosocindia.com/index.php/jgsi/article/view/57934

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