Vertebrates of Siwalik

Shishir BhardwajM.Sc. Applied Geology

Distribution of Siwalik rocks

Formation of Siwalik basin

General Stratigraphy of Siwalik Group

Lithostratigraphy of Siwalik Group

Sub- phylum Vertebrata

Vertebrate fossil and its Application to Earth Science Research

Vertebrate Fauna in Siwaliks

Climate conditions and Life in Siwaliks

Topics of discussion:

Distribution of Siwalik Rocks

How and when Siwalik basin was formed ???

Activation of MBT – 18.3 Ma Span of sedimentation – 16 to 5 MaRemained repository for detritus until 0.22 Ma

Reactivation of MBT, involving riding of lesser Himalayan rocks on the Sirmaur basin, which was accompanied by the sagging of the crust immediately to the south of rising mountain front

Geological Time scale

Classification of the Siwalik Group

Standard European Equivalent

Age calculated from reversal stratigraphy (in Ma)

Continental equivalent

 

 Pleistocen

e      

Pliocene   

Miocene

Upper Siwalik

Boulder conglomerate  Pinjor  Tatrot  Dhok Pathan  Nagri  Chinji Kamlial   Muree Group

Cromerian   Villafranchian  Astian  Pontian   Sarmatian  Tortonian Helvetian   Burdigalian

0.5 to 1.5    2.47  5.5  8.5  10.8  14.3 18.3

?  Mid-late Villafranchian Early Villafranchian –Ruscinian Turolian  L. VellesianE. Turolian Oeningian Pre- Oeningian 

Middle SiwalikLower Siwalik 

Chronostratigraphic division of Siwalik Succession(Source: Tandon et al. 1998)

Subgroup

Lithology ~Thickness

Upper Siwalik

Predominantly massive conglomerate with red and orange clay as matrix and minor sandstone and earth buff and brown shale

  Sandstone, clay and conglomerate

alteration.

2300m

Middle Siwalik

Massive sandstone with minor conglomerate and local variegated shale

  Predominantly medium to coarse-

grained sandstone and red clays alteration, soft pebbly with subordinate shale, locally thick prism of conglomerate

1400m to 2000m

Lower Siwalik

Alteration of fine to medium- grained sporadically pebbly sandstone, calcareous cement and prominent chocolate and maroon shale in middle part

  Red and mauve shale with intercalations

of medium to fine grained sandstone

1600m

Lithostratigraphy of Siwalik Group (after Karunakaran and Ranga Rao, 1976)

• Fluvial sequence deposited by some contemporaneous Himalayan river (Indo- Brahm River by Pascoe)

Types of depositional environment

Piedmont Outwash Plains

Channel and flood deposit lacustrine

Immature

• The Chordates having flexible vertebrae are known as Vertebrates.

• The sense organs are mostly concentrated in anterior part, situated with a bony case called Skull which is articulated with vertebrae column.

Sub- Phylum Vertebrata

Vertebrate Fossil: Introduction

Fossils are disarticulated in nature.

Most durable parts are commonly preserved as fossils of vertebrates are their bones, teeth and footprints.

• Evolution of different modern species.

• Useful for correlation purpose in CONTINENTAL regions.

• Paleoclimatology, Paleobiogeography, and Paleoecology

• History and Culture

Application in Earth Science Research

Vertebrate Fauna in Siwaliks

Taphonomical features of Fossils in Siwalik region.

Siwalik equivalent in NE part of India is comparatively unfossiliferous.

Vertebrates

Pisces

Tetrapoda

Amphibians

Reptilians

Crocodiles

Tortoises

Squamates:Lizard and

SnakeBirds

Mammals

Insectivora

Primates

Carnivora

Rodentia

Lagomorpha

Ungulates

Ungulates

Perissodactyla

Suidae

Anthracoteriidae

Hippopotamidae

Camelidae

Tragulidae

Cervidae

Giraffidae

Bovoidea

Artiodactyla

Tapiridae

Rhinocerotidae

Equidae

Proboscidea

warm and humid

Tropical evergreen trees

Pigs, elephant, carnivores and artiodactyles

Flood and piedmont deposit

Baluchitherium

Lower Siwalik : 18.3 – 11.5 Ma

Climatic conditions and Life in Siwaliks

Colossochelys atlas Gomphotherium

Oblique left lateral view of thecranium of modern Pongo pygmaeusand Late Miocene Sivapithecus indicusfrom Pakistan. Photo by C.Tarka.(pg. 1198 encyclopedia of human evolution)

Middle Siwalik : 11.5 – 5.1 Ma

Reactivation of MBT and MCT

Uplift of Himadri

Onset of Monsoon

Encroachment of Grass lands

Grass land attracted grazing animals from neighbouring lands

Invasion of exotic fauna (mainly four footed) in Potwar basin

Hipparion antelopinum (3 toed horse)

Hexaprotodon sivalnesis (Hippopotamus)

Deinotherium Giganteum

Vishnutheriun

Upper Siwalik: 5.1- 1.6 Ma

Tropical forest completely replaced by Savannah- type, grassy plains dotted sparsely with trees

Grazing and browsing animals became dominant

Macacus monkeys, and the semia & Semnopithecus apes

Carnivores tigers, hyenas, panthers and cats

The elephants Mastodon sivelensis, Stegodon ganesa

The giraffes Indratherium & Sivatherium

The ungulates rhinos, horses, hippopotami, boars and camels

The Artiodactyles deer, buffaloes, cows, bisons

Stone artefacts show clue for the presence of human –like primate but no body remains have so far been found anywhere in Siwalik.

Stegodon sivalensis Elephas ganesa

Mastodon sivalensis Skull of Sivatherium

• Key Faunal Events:

* Prior to 18 Ma- Establishment of Siwalik Fauna

* 18-14 Ma – Bovids and other ruminants, large hervivores, muroids, cricetidae (deer) dominant

* 14- 9.5 Ma – appearance of Hominids, horses appeared, muroid dominant

* 7.5- 6.5 Ma – Siwalik fauna becomes similar to Eurasia, Sivapitecus become extinct, Deinotherium, Brachytherium, Hystrix (porcupine), Giraffine, Cercopithecids (old world monkeys)

* 7.4 Ma onwards- larger homonids Gigantopithecus disappeard, change environment & climate become arid

References:   Basu, P.K., 2003, Siwalik mammals of the Jammu Sub-Himalaya, India: an appraisal of their

diversity and habitats, Quaternary International Journal 117. p.105-118  Barry, J.C., and Flynn, L.J.1990. Key Biostratigraphic events in The Siwalik Sequence.

European Neogene Mammal Choronology, p.557-571.

Behrensmeyer, A.K., 1982, Time resolution in Fluvial Vertebrate assemblages, Paleobiology Journal, Paleontological Society, v.8, no.3, p. 211-227.

  Flynn, L.J. et al., 1994,Neogene Siwalik Mammalian lineages: Species longevities, rates of

change and modes of speciation. Journal of Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology. v.115(2), p.249-264.

  Flynn, L.J. et al., 1990, The Siwaliks of Pakistan: Time and Faunas in Miocene Terrestrial

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Jaitley, A.K. et al., 2011, Palaeontology and Stratigraphy: Basics to Applications, Book of lecture series, Banaras Hindu University, P.59-66.

Kumar, R., 2006, Fundamentals of Historical Geology and Stratigraphy of India. Edition- 1, p. 206-210.

  Lindsay, E.H., Opdyke, N.D., and Johnson, N.M. 1980. Correlation of Siwalik faunas. In: L.L.

Jacobs (ed.), Aspects of Vertebrate History: Essay in Honor of Edwin Harris Colbert, Museum of Northern Arizona Press, Flagstaff. p. 309- 319.

Pascoe, E.H., 1962, A manual of the Geology of India and Burma, Volume-3, Geological Survey of India. Edition-3, p.1811-1818.

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