Cretaceous-Paleogene Transition of Reptilian Tetrapods across Deccan Volcanism in India

Dhananjay M. Mohabey,Bandana Samant

doi:10.4236/ojg.2019.910062

Abstract

Eruptions of lava flows of Deccan large igneous province straddled the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary (K-Pg). Sediments associated at different stratigraphic levels within the lava piles of Deccan volcanic sequences (DVS) are mainly terrestrial. We studied the sediments of Eastern and Central Deccan Volcanic Province, and the Malwa Plateau for tracking changes in reptilian tetrapods across the volcanism. The reptiles are mainly represented by abelisaurid-titanosaurid dinosaurs, Alethinophidia madtsoiia snakes, Notosuchian crocodylomorph Simosuchus, bothremydid Kurmademydinae turtles and Anguimorph and Scincomorphs lizards. The evidences suggest that the non-avian dinosaurs were adversely affected by the arrival of the first volcanic flows locally in the province either within C30N or C29R Maastrichtian. The abelisaurid theropods became extinct whereas a single or two species of titanosauriforme dinosaurs survived but eventually became extinct at least 350 ky before the K-Pg boundary with increasing volcanism. The madtsooid snakes and crocodylimorphs were also adversely affected with decline in their diversity and abundance, whereas the Bothremydid turtles survived the initial onslaught of Deccan volcanism and continued across the K-Pg boundary.

Highlights

Deccan Large Igneous Province (DLIP) is designated [1] as Western Deccan Volcanic Province (WDVP), Central Deccan Volcanic Province (CDVP), Eastern Deccan Volcanic Province (EDVP), Malwa Plateau and undesignated sequences of Saurastra and Kutch (Figure 1)
We studied the sediments of Eastern and Central Deccan Volcanic Province, and the Malwa Plateau for tracking changes in reptilian tetrapods across the volcanism
The madtsooid snakes and crocodylimorphs were adversely affected with decline in their diversity and abundance, whereas the Bothremydid turtles survived the initial onslaught of Deccan volcanism and continued across the K-Pg boundary

Summary

Introduction

Deccan Large Igneous Province (DLIP) is designated [1] as Western Deccan Volcanic Province (WDVP), Central Deccan Volcanic Province (CDVP), Eastern Deccan Volcanic Province (EDVP), Malwa Plateau and undesignated sequences of Saurastra and Kutch (Figure 1). The different provinces have separate sites, source, timing and duration of eruptions [2]. Phases across the K-Pg boundary the total duration of Deccan volcanism is debatable [3] but currently considered to have spanned between 68 - 62.5 Ma ago. The study of lava piles associated with multiple sedimentary deposits is critical for tracking biotic and environmental changes across the volcanism

Geological Setting

Reptilian Fauna from Indian Maastrichtian-Paleocene

Conclusion