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F R O M KARGIL FORMATION, L A D A K H M O L A S S E G R O U P :
AGE A N D P A L A E O B I O G E O G R A P H I C
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE INDIAN
S U B C O N T I N E N T IN THE O L I G O - M I O C E N E
AVINASH C. N A N D A & ASHOK SAHNI
NANDA A.C. & SAHNI A. 1998. Ctenodactyloid rodent assemblage from Kargil Formation, Ladakh Molasse Group:
age and palaeobiogeographic implications for the Indian subcontinent in the Oligo-Miocene. [Assemblage de ron-
geurs ct~nodactylo~des de la Formation Kargil, Groupe de la Molasse de Ladakh: fige et pal~og~ographie du sous-
continent indien ~ l'Oligo-Mioc~ne]. GEOBIOS, 31, 4: 533-544. Villeurbanne, le 31.08.1998.
ABSTRACT - Two ctenodactyloid rodents, Fallomus r a z a e FLYNN,JACOBS& CHEEMAand E ladakhensis nov. sp., are
being described from the Kargil Formation of the Ladakh Molasse Group of Kargil area. Fallomus (?
Chapattimyidae) is considered an endemic offshoot of the South Asian Eocene ctenodactyloid stock. The new species
is relatively larger and more hypsodont with an ectostylid borne on a separate pillar. At Kargil, Iberomeryx (=
Cryptomeryx) savagei and Lophiomeryx kargilensis were earlier reported and indicate an Upper Oligocene age for
the lower part of the Ladakh Molasse Group. Both these taxa show Eurasian affinity. From the upper part of the
Ladakh Molasse Group i.e. Pashkyum Formation, Hyoboops palaeindicus is known and indicates a Lower Miocene
age for the lower part of the Pashkyum Formation. The fossil vertebrates suggest an age for the Ladakh Molasse
Group extending from Upper Oligocene to Middle Miocene. The incisor enamel ultrastructure of Fallomus is multi-
serial with average inclination of the Hunter Schreger Bands varying between 30 °. 35 °.
INTRODUCTION t e r n e x t r e m i t y t e r m i n a t e s at K a r g i l t o w n s h i p
(Tewari 1964). It is exposed e a s t w a r d s at Leh,
A d d i t i o n a l finds of r o d e n t s from t h e Oligo-Miocene
N y o m a and H a n l e and passes into Tibet w h e r e it is
s e q u e n c e s of t h e L a d a k h Molasse G r o u p in the
referred as Xigaze Group by Chinese geologists (fide
n o r t h w e s t e r n H i m a l a y a h a v e i n t e r e s t i n g implica- S r i k a n t i a & R a z d a n 1985). This g r o u p is best expo-
tions for r o d e n t diversification in S o u t h Asia a n d sed along W a k k a River section, Kargil a n d h a s yiel-
m i g r a t o r y r o u t e s in t h e context of a r i s i n g m o u n - ded from its basal p a r t a diverse a n d significant
r a i n r a n g e s . T h e L a d a k h Molasse G r o u p occurs as f a u n a which h a s been described by N a n d a & S a h n i
a n a r r o w a r c u a t e belt, all along t h e s o u t h e r n m a r - (1990). I n addition to this a single Hyoboops tooth
gin of t h e L a d a k h P l u t o n i c Complex, a n d its wes- was r e p o r t e d from Baroo Colony of Kargil by Dixit
534
et al. (1971) and was described in detail by Savage details of these various lithounits and described
et al. (1977). Location of Kargil area and position of the palynological fossils from Wakka Chu section.
fossil localities are shown in the geological map One of us (ACN) has mapped the area on a scale of
(Fig. 1). Interestingly from the Trans Himalayan 1:50 000 and was able to demarcate the various
region vertebrate fossils are known from Hundes formations of Bhandari et al. (1977) in the vicinity
and Kailash region of Tibet and were reported in of Kargil (Fig. 1). In a significant contribution,
the last century by Buckland (1823) and Strachey Brookfield & Andrews - Speed (1984) carried out
(1851). These findings were considered as belon- sedimentological studies in the area and recogni-
ging to the Pleistocene by Savage et al. (1977). zed six lithological units for the Ladakh Molasse
The present fossil locality is the same which have Group in Kargil area. The first three units show a
earlier yielded the artiodactyals, Lophiomeryx transition from arid, ephemeral stream deposits,
and Iberomeryx (= Cryptomeryx savagei), worn through braided and meandering stream sedimen-
ctenodactyloid maxillary f r a g m e n t and boid tation and mark the filling in a large basin and
snakes (Nanda & Sahni 1990). Continued field suggest climatic variations from semi-arid to tem-
work in the area suggests that Kargil locality perate, humid conditions. The three other younger
exposed along Wakka River is stratigraphically units show a change from deep lake basin turbi-
older than the one producing Hyoboops (Dixit et dites through semi-arid ephemeral stream deposits
al. 1971; Savage et al. 1977). This observation to large braided and meandering streams, followed
finds some supports from earlier studies by by a major change to extreme aridity (Brookfield &
Brookfield & A n d r e w s - S p e e d (1984). These Andrews-Speed 1984, p. 175, Table i).
authors followed the biostratigraphic scheme of
Bhandari et a1.(1977), but were able to differen- GEOLOGY
tiate six lithounits. Their unit 1 corresponds to
the horizon yielding the present forms (i.e. the The Ladakh Molasse Group is best exposed along
Kargil Formation of Bhandari et al. 1977), while Wakka River section and has been divided into
the Hyoboops find is probably equivalent to their three formations - Kargil, Tarumsa and Pashkyum
unit 5 (Pashkyum Formation of Bhandari et al. by Bhandari et al. (1977). A brief description of the
1977). Field evidences support this as there is no various formations is given below and the position
strike continuity between the two exposures as of the various formations and their geographic
Raiverman & Misra (1975, fig. 4) have shown a extension in Kargil area is shown in Figure 1.
fault in the intervening area. Srikantia and KARGIL FORMATION
Razdan (1980, p. 528 ) have also considered that
the "outlier" which yielded Hyoboops at Baroo Kargil Formation, the oldest formation of the
represents the upper part and not the basal part Ladakh Molasse Group, overlies unconformably
of their "Indus Group" (= Ladakh Molasse Group on the granitoids of the Ladakh Plutonic Complex
of Tewari 1964 and of present work). According to and is best exposed along both sides of Wakka
these workers due to time transgressive phase the River near Akchamal village. The sequence is cha-
u p p e r p a r t overlaps the L a d a k h Plutonic racterized by conglomerates, greyish green fine to
Complex. At present on account of the lack of the gritty sandstones and purplish red mudstones.
diagnostic fossils, this observation can not be vali- The measured thickness of the Kargil Formation
dated and in need of future confirmation. The pre- along Wakka River is about 190 m and passes
sent age evidences are based on plants, charo- transitionally into the overlying T a r u m s a
phytes, molluscs, and spores and pollens (Sahni & Formation. About 42 m above the contact of the
Bhatnagar 1962; Tewari & Dixit 1971; Tewari & molasse and granitoid basement, from the same
Sharma 1972; Bhandari et a1.1977; Mathur 1983). purple red mudstone (Fig. 2) which yielded the
More evidences based on flora and fauna are vertebrate fauna earlier described by N a n d a &
required to established age precisely. Sahni (1990), an additional collection of ctenodac-
The geology of the Ladakh area is beset with seve- tyloid rodents was made and is being described
ral problems regarding multiplicity of stratigra- here. Earlier workers reported shells of gastro-
phic nomenclature and its usages, and it is there- pods and lamellibranchs associated with plant
fore essential to clarify the terminology used in the fossils (Sahni & Bhatnagar 1962; M a t h u r 1983)
present paper. While excellent summaries of the and palynological fossils (Bhandari et al. 1977)
regional geology have been provided by Shah et al. from this section. However, they did not report
(1976), Frank et al. (1977), Thakur (1981), Sahni et any vertebrate fossils.
al. (1984), Srikantia & Razdan (1985), one of the TARUMSA FORMATION
simplest classification for the Ladakh Molasse
Group of the Kargil area has been given by The Tarumsa Formation (700 m thick) is best expo-
Bhandari et al. (1977). These workers gave the sed east of the Tarumsa village and is characterized
535
FIGURE 1 - Geological m a p of
K a r g i l area. I n s e t geological m a p ~ q 1 Quaternary ~ Ladakh Granite N
Deposits Present Fossil
s i m p l i f i e d a f t e r Sch~irer et al.
(1984). Carte gdographique de la ~, I ' ~ " ~ Pashk u j - ' ~ Dras Voloanics X F' L°oalitY
0 O.,. ll_ __1 ymFm. , .,
rdgion de Kargil, simplifide d'apr@s ~" X Baroo Colony + -+
Schdrer et al. (1984). -r 0 4 ~ Tarumsa Fm. ~ Thrust F, Locality , + T/<7tk-
< // I ~
~ I .r,,argl
. . . Pro. F "-. ,,,,, Fault .
+ t ÷. ÷ + + / ~/~-- ~ ~ -,.r
m ~- Y "" La HamDo[ina
-~ ~ : . ~
oh ~in~
_~
+%z-L-%+ +I
+] >;r'".l ++ ++ ::.7
+\ ~ . . . : : .. : : . ~ , - v
+'~ ~ . . : :~.-. :~'v
+ ~ -- . . . . . . \-_-_-_---/v ,.7 v v
-,,-y-r .,/,. ,'Y y ~.,-~ ~,~ .-? < ~..~-- ----_-- / V '4 0 1 2 3 km
- -~.~...,- .,~ ~ ~- ~- ~- -.,- ? \ - - - / V I I I I
+1~ v ~ - " ~ ~..~v-'~---~ ''v
V,/~v --.c.,.~ .~.:; V V
4- - ' ' + ~ V V
150kml +-..T<argil + ?'ra/?s+~-L.++ + N ~,Kargil
0 ~ : + I ~NDI~:~
" 0 ' , 2
INDEX
" -'xZanskar Sedimen [ [ ~
F~J LadakhMolasseGroup OphioIiticMelange
autochthonous
Indus Formation ~ Lamayuruunit
Parautochthonous
rn-4F'BDrasvolcanics 17"-71Sedimentand
NindamFormation IZZI acidvolcanics
by thickly bedded multistoried sandstone bodies lithe-successions, belonging to the Kargil and the
with mudstone interval and minor conglomeratic Pashkyum Formations show close similarities in
horizons. Fragmentary bone pieces are noticed in Wakka River section. Brookfield & Andrews - Speed
the Tarumsa Formation which is otherwise rich in (1984, Table 1) classified these beds to their lithou-
plant and invertebrate fossils mainly molluscs and nit 5 (i.e. Pashkyum Formation of Bhandari et al.
these are described by Sahni & Bhatnagar (1962) 1977) whereas the Kargil Formation belongs to
and Mathur (1983). Bhandari et al. (1977) observed their lithounit 1. On the basis of the sedimentologi-
spores, pollens, algal remains and highly carboni- cal studies, these authors prefer to put these beds
zed cuticles from the lower part of the formation with unit 5 i.e. the Pashkyum Formation (Brook-
and suggested an Eocene - Miocene age. field & Andrews-Speed 1984, p. 188).
T
Early Miocene rodents from the Dera Bugti loca-
lily of Baluchistan (Pakistan). They described four
new genera, Baluchimys, Lindsaya, Lophibaiu-
chia and Hodsahibia, in a new subfamily the
K Baluchimyinae of the redefined family Chapattiy-
A F Conglomerate
• midae of the Superfamily Ctenodactyloidea. Of
~ Sandstone
special interest in the present context is their des-
R cription of new genus and species of Fallomus (?
G ~ Mudstone Chapattimyidae) as this taxon has been reported
from two Pakistan localities, Dera Bugti and
I Current bedding Zinda Fir Dome (de Bruijn et al. 1981; Flynn &
L c=~ Vertebratefossil Cheema 1994), and now this taxon is being repor-
ted from Kargil. A map of the various localities of
Fish remains Fallomus is provided in Figure 7.
Invertebratefossil
One of best studies of Early Miocene vertebrate
assemblages from the Indian subcontinent is the
Plant fossil one at Bugti which has recently been restudied by
Raza & Meyer (1984). The Bugti m a m m a l s as now
known comprise of large forms which exhibit a
F mixture of Asian and African elements (Flynn et
al. 1986). The Bugti Bone Bed has been assigned
O to the Bugti Member (about 100 m) of the
R Iberomeryx savagei, Lophiomeryx Chitarwata Formation (Hemphill & Kidwai 1973).
M kargilensis, Faflomus razae, F, These fossiliferous sediments include near shore
ladakensis, boid snakes etc. invertebrates such as Ostrea along with sharks
A and other bony fishes. Raza & Meyer (1984) have
T suggested that the Bugti m a y be correlatable to
the Orleanian Mammal Age of Europe extending
I I
Tarumsa Formation from 21 to 18 Ma and this is based on their com-
O parisons to the Rusinga Island, Kenya faunas.
However, this correlation requires further docu-
N mentation. Fallomus is also reported from coeval
beds about 100 kms to the northeast of Bugti in
the Zinda Fir Dome area (Flynn & Cheema 1994).
It is important in the context of the Kargil Forma-
lion to understand the age, sedimentation and bio-
tas of the Chitarwata Formation exposed east of
Chitarwata. These sediments comprise mainly
FIGURE 2 - Stratigraphic column of the lower part of the argillaceous facies with red, grey and green clays-
L a d a k h Molasse Group, W a k k a River section. Colonne strati- tones with minor amounts of siltstones and sand-
graphique de la partie infdrieure du Groupe de la Molasse de stones. Hemphill & Kidwai (1973) considered the
Ladakh, coupe de la rivi~re Wakka. Chitarwata Formation to be Late Oligocene and
Lower Miocene in age on the basis of palynoas-
L a d a k h Molasse Group (= Indus Group of semblage from the Toi Nala Section. Recently
Srikantia & Razdan 1980), have produced several Downing et al. (1993) have restudied the Chitar-
isolated and j a w f r a g m e n t s of c h a p p a t y m i d wata Formation at Dalana and consider these
rodents assignable to one new species of Fallo- deposits as estuarine marked by intense bioturba-
mus. The significance of rodents in the biochrono- tion, some subaerial exposures leading to pedoge-
logy of the thick succession of Tertiary sequences nesis. Most of the small mammals can be related to
in India and Pakistan has been constantly stres- those described from Bugti. There are minor diffe-
sed by several workers (Sahni & Khare 1973; rences between the Bugti and the Zinda Fir
Jacobs 1978; (de Nruijn et al. 1981; Flynn et al. rodents and these are mostly related to frequency
1986). In the present context of the Kargil rodent of occurrence rather than any major compositional
assemblage, what is important is the temporal differences in the assemblage. Significantly, the
and spatial distribution of Oligo-Miocene cteno- non-baluchimyinae chapattimyid genus, Fallomus,
dactyloid and chapattiymid rodents of Pakistan. is also reported from here.
537
Further to the northwest at Kohat, de Bruijn et al. The locality lies on the main Kargil-Homboting La-
(1981) have documented a rodent similar to Fallo- Batalik Road and is just before the Wakka River
m u s from beds lying just above a regional uncon- Bridge and is 3.5 km. east southeast of the Kargil
formity dated at 18.3 Ma. The Murree rodents township. Its position is shown in the geological
include some typical Lower Siwalik elements such map and stratigraphic column (Figs 1, 2).
as Sayimys, cricetids, scurids, a rhizomid and a
possible thryonomyoid. Kargil rodents described SYSTEMATIC D E S C R I P T I O N S
below are housed in the repository of the Museum
of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehra
Dun, India. These rodents are collected from the Superfamily CTENODACTYOLOIDEATu]lberg, 1899
same locality from which Nanda & Sahni (1990) Family ?CHAPATTIMYIDAEHussain, de Bruijn &
described the vertebrates fossils. However, they Leinders, 1978
have quoted the geographical position incorrectly. Genus F a l l o m u s FLYNN, JACOBS & CHEEMA, 1986
~6
8
~t
11 12
Fallomus r a z a e FLYNN, JACOBS • CHEEMA, 1 9 8 6 WIMF/A 1703 is probably a LM2 and is fairly hyp-
Fig. 3.1~9 sodont (Fig. 3.5-6). This tooth is marked high
ridges and relatively little wear on the trigonid.
The material referable to this species in the The anterior cingulum is well developed. Again,
Kargil collection consists four lower molars, an wear has resulted in the linking of the hypoconu-
upper molar and numerous fragmentary dental lid with the ridge joining the hypoconid and the
elements. As the occurrence of this taxon requires entoconid. A prominent ectostylid is present at
detailed documentation, all the available speci- the base of the valley separating the trigonid and
mens have been described. the talonid.
WIMF/A 1701 (Fig. 3.1-2) exhibits about the WIMF/A 1704 (Fig. 3.7-8) is similar in dental
same degree of wear as specimen GSP 21236 from morphology to the other teeth described. It is fair-
Pakistan and illustrated in Fig. 5H (Flynn et al. ly bunodont, worn down and possesses a promi-
1986). The protoconid is a large, vertically projec- nent ectostylid. The above described lower molars
ting, conical cusp which is linked to the antero- are indistinguishable from those described by
posteriorly compressed metaconid by a high ridge. Flynn et al. (1986) from the Bugti. In some ins-
The talonid is not appreciably wider than the tri- tances, as mentioned before there seems to be a
gonid and this suggests that the tooth is a LM1. tendency towards hypsodonty.
The anterior cingulum is not as well developed as
in WIMF/A 1703 but it is nevertheless distinct. WLMF/A 1705 (Fig. 3.9) represents the only iden-
The hypoconulid is fairly characteristic: it is ver- tifiable upper right molar in the collection. It is
tically oriented, isolated and cut off by a deep val- worn posteriorly and better specimens are proba-
ley from the ridge joining the hypoconid to the bly needed to confirm the association of this upper
entoconid. It is situated medianly and somewhat molar with the lowers. The ridge joining the para-
lingually. The well developed hypoconid is linked cone to the protocone is lingually inclined and
by a transverse high ridge to the entoconid. The somewhat oriented in the same manner as GSP
ectostylid is a small and feeble cusp in this parti- 21209 (Flynn et al. 1986, fig. 5C). The posteroloph
is highly worn and exhibits a prominent metaco-
cular specimen though it is better developed in
ne situated at the posterior corner of the tooth.
the other molars in the collection. This specimen
shows some tendency towards hypsodonty but it
should be borne in mind that the specimen is rela- Fal!omus ladakhensis nov. sp.
tively unworn (Fig. 3.2). The lingual view shows Figs 3.10-12; 4.1-3
the slender nature of the c u s p s . t I o l o t y p e - WIMF/A 1706, right lower second molar.
WIMF/A 1702 (Fig. 3.3-4) is a more worn specimen P a r a t y p e - WIMF/A 1707, right lower last molar.
and is a RM2. The cusps are bunodont and wear has T y p e L o c a l i t y - Purple red mudstone, about 3.5 km east sou-
allowed the joining of the hypoconulid with the theast of Kargil, Wakka Chu section,Ladakh
obliquely trending ridge joining the entoconid and
E t y m o l o g y - Named after the region of Ladakh
the hypoconid. The protoconid is a massive cusp
and on its posterior slope at the base is situated a S p e c i f i c d i a g n o s i s - A relatively larger, more
small poorly developed ectostylid (Fig. 3.4). hypsodont species with a rather high parapet joi-
FIGURE 4 - Scanning electron photomicrograph o f F a l l o m u s ladakhensis nov. sp. Bar represents 1 mm. WIMF/A 1707, paratype,
right lower last molar. 1. labial view. 2. occlusal view. 3. lingual view. Microphotographies M E B de Fallomus ladakhensis nov. sp.
Echelle: 1 ram. Paratype, derni~re molaire infgrieure droite, 1, vue labiale, 2, vue occlusale, 3, rue linguale.
539
P r e s e n t Collection
E razae E razae E ladakhensis
F l y n n et al. 1986
Table 5* Table 4, n ° n ° WIMF/A N ° WIMF/A
21257 21258 21259 21260 1701 1702 1703 1704 1706 1707
M1
Length(L) 1.40-1.68 2.21
Width(W) 1.20-1.46 1.74
W/L 0.86-0.87 0.79
M2
Length(L) 1.52-1.66 2.53 2.49 1.90 2.45
Width(W) 1.44-1.62 2.57 2.53 1.86 2.49
W/L 0.95-0.98 1.02 1.02 0.98 1.02
M3 3.24
Length(L) 1.54 1.46 1.70 1.68 2.53
Width(W ) 1.38 1.34 1.32 1.46 0.78
W/L 0.90 0.92 0.78 0.87
*Observed range
ning the metaconid and the protoconid. RM3 hyp- ly established the generalized nature of paucise-
sodont with well developed and distinct lophids. rial enamel and the more derived condition (in
Ectostylid borne on a separate pillar. rodents) of the multiserial and uniserial enamel.
Earlier, Wahlert (1968) had stated that the pauci-
Description - W I M F / 1 7 0 6 (Fig. 3.10-12 ) is a
serial pattern was the most generalized, a view-
well preserved tooth in a fairly advanced stage of
point that was strongly supported by Sahni in all
wear. In spite of this it appears to be quite hypso-
his papers (Sahni 1980, 1984, 1986, 1989). Sahni
dont with deeply incised valleys between the talo- (1986) pointed out that the pauciserial enamel
nid and the trigonid as well as between the meta- pattern should be considered as a functional
conid and the protoconid. The ectostylid is very
grade in rodent enamel evolution as several
prominent and only somewhat lower than the
Eocene rodent families possessed this generalized
hypoconid.The cusps also appear to be relatively
pattern. Martin (1992) provided concrete evidence
more robust than those of F a l l o m u s razae. in the orientation patterns of the inter prismatic
W I M F / A 1707 (Fig. 4) is a r a t h e r elongated, and prismatic crystallites by showing that in most
high crested tooth. The anterior cusps are verti- generalized and temporally older rodent enamels,
cally oriented while the posterior ones are incli- the crystallite orientation of the inter prismatic
ned anteriorly. The protoconid is a massive cylin- layers was parallel to that of the prismatic layer.
drical cusp and is joined to the metaconid along In the Kargil material, there are a few fragmen-
its anterior margin. The hypoconulid is joined to tary incisors but only one that can be attributed
the posterolophid. Ectostylid is not differentia- to F a l l o m u s with some degree of confidence. The
ted. C o m p a r a t i v e m e a s u r e m e n t s of the lower presently studied incisor represents a small por-
molars of t h e species of F a l l o m u s are given in tion in the upper jaw close to maxillary alveolus.
Table 1. All the presently studied enamel ultrastructure
relates to this single incisor fragment. This frag-
FALLOMUS: INCISOR ENAMEL ment was sectioned transversely, obliquely and
ULTRASTRUCTURE
longitudinally and is described herewith (Figs 5,
6). The enamel thickness of F a l l o m u s is variable
Ctenodactyloid rodents from the Indian subconti- and ranges between 200 to 260 ~m which is
nent have also been studied from the perspective appreciably greater than the thickness of chapat-
of their dental microstructure using polarizing timyids and bahichimyines so far reviewed by
light microscopy (Sahni 1980) and scanning elec- Martin (1992). However, the variability m a y also
tron microscopy (Hussain et al. 1978, Sahni 1984 be on account of the basal sections studied. The
& 1986; Martin 1992). Martin (1992) in a mono- pattern is clearly multiserial with an average
graphic t r e a t m e n t of enamel ultrastructure of inclination of HSB's about 30-35 ° (Martin 1992).
selected genera of the major rodent families firm- In longitudinal section the limited observations
540
FIGURE 6 - 1. Transverse section showing multiserial H u n t e r Schreger Bands. Mosaic arranged laterally, bar represents 100 ~m.
2. Transverse section u n d e r high magnification showing multiserial H u n t e r Schreger Bands. Mosaic a r r a n g e d vertically, bar
represents 10 ~m. Coupe transversale montrant la structure multisdride des bandes de Hunter Schreger disposdes en mosa~que.
dchelle: 100 #m. 2, ddtail, ~chelle 10 #m.
structure of Fallomus. More material is needed to ly multiserial and not typical for structures t h a t
make a detailed study. However, the present work have been described for older (Eocene and Oligo-
has established t h a t the incisor pattern is typical- cene) rodent enamels.
542
:t
• "'i ....J . f ,.. X - Fallornus
P'.. o,.~.,oj°
I "~ "2"~'~%~ "~'" " - "~ Locality
• • I ." ~ _Leh r"
) AFGHANISTAN cJ /",~ K a m i l " ~ " T"
[. (," Islamabad ~. - k.~ 0 500 km
\ : / -'~. 9..'x---.x
,.-,..' f ,-" t
_.
/ ~i ' " / ~~ • ,~ ~"~_
"~-
t Zinda Pir X j-~ ./ ,~:,-,'~..,.
"~'t.-- . . . . . . . . . . . v l~ /" DELHI l ,. "'v'.
"x. ^ / d ,," • [..~ ~v ~ ' p "--.~ ..
' Dera B u g t i ~ / .... Xl/. "~-.~.._.,,
Y / .... •. . . . . . . ,
• ( ,.';, "" .......
\"/~.-.._.r~ _ )
~ C I N D I A
FIGURE 7 - G e o g r a p h i c a l d i s t r i -
b u t i o n of Fallomus. Rdpartition
gdographique de F a l l o m u s .
543
p r e s e n c e of Fallomus razae a n d this species can BUCKLANDW. 1823 - Reliquiae Diluvianae; or observa-
be d i s t i n g u i s h e d on t h e basis of size, h y p s o d o n t y tions on the organic remains contained in caves, fis-
a n d cusp m o r p h o l o g y from F. ladakhensis nov. sp. sures and diluvial gravel, and on other geological
phenomena, attesting the action of an universal delu-
M i g r a t i o n r o u t e s for the Oligo-Miocene r o d e n t s ge, 303 p. John Murry, London.
are h a r d e r to c h a r t as the geology and s t r a t i g r a - DE BRUIJN H., HUSSAINS.T. & LEINDERSJ.J.M. 1981 -
p h y of t h e Oligo-Miocene (i.e. pre Siwalik) interval Fossil rodents from the Murree Formation near
needs to be b e t t e r defined. However, at p r e s e n t it Banda, Daud Shah, Kohat, Pakistan. Proceeding of
a p p e a r s t h a t Fallomus was an endemic offshoot of the Koninkligke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetens-
t h e E o c e n e ctenodactyloid stock w h i c h g r a d u a l l y chappen, B, 84: 71-99.
s p r e a d a l o n g the coastal deposits t h a t were shif- DIXIT P.C., KACHROOR.K., RAI H. & SHARMAN.L. 1971 -
t i n g d e p o c e n t r a l l y s o u t h w a r d s . The E u r o p e a n affi- Discovery of vertebrate fossils from the Kargil basin,
nities h a v e been s t r e n g t h e n e d by additional m a t e - Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir). Current Science, 40:
rial of Iberomeryx while the relationships to Africa 633-634.
a n d c e n t r a l Asia m u s t await additional data. The DOWING K.F., LINDSAY E.H., DOWNS W.R. & SPEYER S.E.
1993 - Lithostratigraphy and vertebrate biostrati-
occurrence of E u r o p e a n a n d s u b c o n t i n e n t forms
graphy of the early Miocene Himalyan Foreland,
s u g g e s t s t h a t the K o h i s t a n - L a d a k h - G a n d e s e
Zinda Pir Dome, Pakistan. Sedimentary Geology, 87:
M a g m a t i c Arc h a d s u t u r e d earlier (Cretaceous - 25-37.
Palaeocene) w i t h the I n d i a n P l a t e a n d also h a d a FLYNNL.J. & CHEEMAI.V. 1994 - Baluchimyine rodents
connection with the E u r o p e a n l a n d m a s s . from the Zinda Pit Dome, western Pakistan: syste-
T h e r e is little p a l a e o m a g n e t i c d a t a t h a t can be matic and biochronologic implications. In TOMIDAY.,
u s e d to precisely c o n s t r a i n the spatial distribu- LI C.K. & SETOGUCHIW. (eds), Rodent and Lagomorph
tion of t h e L a d a k h , S o u t h Tibet, K a r a k o r a m a n d Families of Asian origins and diversification. Mono-
graph National Science Museum, Tokyo, 8: 115-129.
B a l u c h i s t a n b l o c k s in t h e E a r l y T e r t i a r y .
FLYNN L.J., JACOBSL.L. & CINEMAI.U. 1986 - Bahchi-
S e d i m e n t a r y a n d biotic d a t a at p r e s e n t provide us
myinae, a new ctenodactyloid rodent subfamily from
w i t h only w i t h b r o a d outlines of t h e palaeobiogeo- the Miocene of Baluchistan. American Museum
g r a p h y detailed b y S a h n i & M i t t r a (1980a,b). Novitates, 2841, 58 p.
A d d i t i o n a l w o r k in t h e L a t e Oligocene - L o w e r FRANK W., GANSSER A.& TROMMSDORFF V. 1977 - Geolo-
Miocene s e d i m e n t s is of t h e u t m o s t i m p o r t a n c e as gical observations in the Ladakh area (Himalayas) A
this w a s t h e t i m e for the initiation of t h e foreland preliminary report. Schweizerische Mineralogische
b a s i n in t h e I n d i a n L e s s e r H i m a l a y a s t h a t was to und Petrograp hische. M itteilungen, 57: 89-113.
HEMPHILLW.R. & KIDWAIA.H. 1973 - Stratigraphy of the
form a p r e c u r s o r b a s i n to t h e y o u n g e r Siwalik
Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan areas, Pakistan.
b a s i n a n d a t i m e for a g r e a t f a u n a l turnover.
U.S.G.S., Professional Paper, 716-B, 36 p.
Acknowledgements - The authors are thankful to Dr. V.C. HUSSAIN S.T.H., DE BRUIJN & LEINDERS T.J.M. 1978 -
Thakur, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geologyfor various faci- Middle Eocene rodents from the Kala Chitta Range
lities. The work was carried out under project (SP/G2/P02/85) (Punjab Pakistan). Proceedings of the Koninkligke
sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Nederlandse Akademie Wetenschappen, B, 81: 101-
India and was awarded to one of us (ACN). Thanks are due to 112.
Dr. K.R. Gupta for scientific discussion and for arranging gene- JACOBS L.L. 1978 - Fossil rodents (Rhizomyidae and
rous financial support. A.C. Nanda is also thankful to his Muridae) from Neogene Siwalik deposits, Pakistan.
various co-workers, Dr. N.S. Virdi, Dr. Rohtash Kumar, Dr. D.C. Museum Northern Arizona Press Bulletin, 52, 103 p.
Sati, Dr. R.K. Sehgal, Mr. Govind Mehra and Mr. Alok Tripathi MARTIN T. 1992 - Schmelzmikrostruktur in den inzisi-
for the help in the field and for discussion, and to Dr. Kishor ven alt- und neu weltlicher hystricognather nagetie-
Kumar for the help in the preparation of the plates. Dr. (Mrs.) re. Palaeovertebrata, Mem. extr., 168 p.
Neera Sahni (SEM/EDX Lab., Panjab University) helped in ]VIATHUR~N~.S. 1983 - Age of the Kargil Formation, La-
electron microscope micrography of the rodent incisor material. dakh Himalaya. In THAKURV.C. & SHARMAK.K. (eds),
Geology of Indus Suture Zone of Ladakh. Wadia
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