Tiki Formation

Tiki Formation
Stratigraphic range: Carnian-Norian
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofGondwana Group
Sub-unitsLower & Upper members
UnderliesUnconformity with the Parsora Formation
OverliesKarki Formation
Lithology
PrimaryMudstone
OtherClaystone, sandstone
Location
Coordinates23°54′N 81°24′E / 23.9°N 81.4°E / 23.9; 81.4
Approximate paleocoordinates42°36′S 51°06′E / 42.6°S 51.1°E / -42.6; 51.1
RegionMadhya Pradesh
CountryIndia
Type section
Named forTiki village
Tiki Formation is located in India
Tiki Formation
Tiki Formation (India)
Tiki Formation is located in Madhya Pradesh
Tiki Formation
Tiki Formation (Madhya Pradesh)

The Tiki Formation is a Late Triassic (Carnian to Norian) geologic formation in Madhya Pradesh, northern India. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been referred to a specific genus. Phytosaur remains attributable to the genus Volcanosuchus have also been found in the Tiki Formation.

Paleobiota

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon

Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Reptiles

Dinosauromorphs

Dinosaurs of the Tiki Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Herrerasauridae Indeterminate Numerous small partial and complete vertebrae and partial limb bones An indeterminate herrerasaurid, closely related to Gnathovorax.
Sauropodomorpha Indeterminate Two semi-articulated sacral vertebrae and an astragalus An indeterminate sauropodomorph, closely related to Buriolestes and Eoraptor.
Theropoda Indeterminate Five teeth and phalanx An indeterminate theropod
Ornithischia Indeterminate Teeth An indeterminate putative ornithischian
Rewasaurus R. minori A fragmentary skull A silesaurid
Silesauridae indet. Indeterminate Two partial femora A silesaurid

Non-dinosaur archosaurs

Non-dinosaur archosaurs of the Tiki Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Tikisuchus T. romeri Partial skull and skeleton of a young individual A putative rauisuchid
Desmatosuchinae Indeterminate Osteoderms An indeterminate aetosaur
Pseudosuchia Indeterminate An indeterminate pseudosuchian

Non-archosaur reptiles

Non-archosaur reptiles of the Tiki Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Colossosuchus C. techniensis Numerous skulls and postcranial material from several individuals A large sized phytosaur
Volcanosuchus V. statisticae A skull A phytosaur
Parasuchus P. hislopi Skull A phytosaur
Phytosauria Indeterminate At least 52 specimens Indeterminate phytosaurs
Clevosaurus C. nicholsi Jaw fragments A clevosaurid rhynchocephalian
Sphenodontia Indeterminate Indeterminate rhynchocephalian
Hyperodapedon H. huxleyi Rare maxillary tooth plate A large sized hyperodapedontine rhynchosaur
H. tikiensis Various cranial and postcranial elements A hyperodapedontine rhynchosaur
Azendohsaurus A. sp. Teeth An azendohsaurid allokotosaur
Protecovasaurus P. sp. Teeth An indeterminate diapsid
Galtonia G. sp. Teeth An indeterminate diapsid

Synapsids

Cynodont

Cynodonts of the Tiki Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Gondwanadon G. tapani A single molar A morganucodont
Inditherium I. floris Three postcanine teeth A dromatheriid
Rewaconodon R. indicus A partial jaw and three postcanine teeth A dromatheriid
R. tikiensis
Ruberodon R. roychowdhurii Five partial jaws A traversodontid
Tikiodon T. cromptoni A single postcanine tooth A mammaliamorph
Tikitherium T. copei A single postcanine tooth A mammaliaform. Initially described as a basal mammaliaform related to Docodonta, but later redescribed as a Neogene shrew fossil that was reworked into the older deposit.
Cynodontia indet.

Amphibians

Temnospondyls

Temnospondyls of the Tiki Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Compsocerops C. tikiensis A chigutisaurid temnospondyl
Metoposaurus M. sp. A metoposaurid temnospondyl
Panthasaurus P. maleriensis A metoposaurid temnospondyl
Metoposauridae Indeterminate At least 655 specimens An indeterminate metoposaurid

Other Amphibians

Other Amphibians of the Tiki Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Eodiscoglossus E. sp An incomplete jaw A discoglossid frog

Actinopterygiis

Actinopterygiis of the Tiki Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Gnathorhiza G. sp. Teeth A gnathorhizid lungfish
Ptychoceratodus P. oldhami Teeth A ptychoceratodontid lungfish
Actinopterygii Indeterminate An indeterminate actinopterygian
Coelacanthidae Indeterminate An indeterminate coelacanth

Chondrichthyes

Chondrichthyes of the Tiki Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Cladodus C. sp. Teeth A ctenacanth
Lonchidion L. estesi A hybodont
L. encumbens A hybodont
Mooreodontus M. indicus Teeth A xenacanthid
M. jaini Teeth
Pristrisodus P. tikiensis Teeth A hybodont, formerly known as Parvodus tikiensis and Lissodus duffini.
Tikiodontus T. asymmetricus Teeth A xenacanthid

Flora

Flora of the Tiki Formation
GenusSpeciesMaterialNotes
Pagiophyllum P. bosei A pinid
Yabeiella Y. indica A cycadeoid
Lepidopteris L. stormbergensis A member of Peltaspermaceae
Desmiophyllum D. singhii A member of Coniferales
Elatocladus E. raoi A member of Coniferales
E. sp.
E. denticulatus
Dicroidium D. coriaceum A member of Corystospermales
D. giarensis
D. zuberi
D. cf. odontopteroides
D. sp.
Xylopteris X. sp. A member of Corystospermales
Sphenobaiera S. janarensis A member of Ginkgoales
Baiera B. sp. A member of Ginkgoales
Thinnfeldia T. hughesi A pteridosperm
Baieroxylon B. cicatricum A member of Ginkgoales

Correlations

The Tiki Formation is considered a temporal equivalent of the Lower Maleri Formation. The majority of the Tiki Formation correlates with the Ischigualasto Formation of Argentina, the upper part of the Santa Maria Formation, and the overlying lower Caturrita Formation of Brazil, the Isalo II Beds of Madagascar, Lossiemouth Sandstone of Scotland, and the lower Tecovas Formation of the Chinle Group of North America.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Weishampel et al., 2004, "Dinosaur distribution", pp. 517-607
  2. ↑ Chatterjee, 1978
  3. 1 2 3 Sen, S.; Bagchi, S.; Ray, S. (2025). "Biogeographical network analysis of the Late Triassic dinosaurs and new insights on their geodispersal routes". Gondwana Research. 144: 167–180. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2025.04.007.
  4. ↑ Ray, Sanghamitra; Bhat, Mohd Safi; Mukherjee, Debarati; Datta, P. M. (2016-12-31). "Vertebrate fauna from the Late Triassic Tiki Formation of India: new finds and their biostratigraphic implications". Journal of Palaeosciences. 65 ((1-2)): 47–59. doi:10.54991/jop.2016.298. ISSN 2583-4266.
  5. 1 2 3 Datta et al., 2005
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kumar, Jitendra; Sharma, K. Milankumar (December 2019). "Micro and Mega-Vertebrate Fossils from the Late Triassic Tiki Formation, South Rewa Gondwana Basin, India: Palaeoenvironmental and Palaeobiogeographic Implications". Journal of the Palaeontological Society of India. 64 (2): 151–168. doi:10.1177/0971102320190201. ISSN 0552-9360.
  7. 1 2 Sen, S.; Basu, P.; Ray, S. (2026). "First definitive record of a silesaurid (Avemetatarsalia: Dinosauriformes) from the Upper Triassic of India with new insights on its origin and dispersal". The Anatomical Record. doi:10.1002/ar.70366.
  8. 1 2 3 Chatterjee & Majumdar, 1987
  9. ↑ Haldar, A.; Ray, S. (2025). "First report of desmatosuchine aetosaur (Pseudosuchia, Aetosauriformes) osteoderms from the Upper Triassic Tiki Formation of India: Their complex internal vascular system, functional significance and biostratigraphy". Journal of Anatomy. doi:10.1111/joa.14255. PMID 40205778.
  10. ↑ Huene, 1940
  11. ↑ Datta, D.; Ray, S. (2023). "A giant phytosaur (Diapsida, Archosauria) from the Upper Triassic of India with new insights on phytosaur migration, endemism and extinction". Papers in Palaeontology. 9 (1). e1476. Bibcode:2023PPal....9E1476D. doi:10.1002/spp2.1476. S2CID 257103850.
  12. ↑ Datta, Debajit; Ray, Sanghamitra; Bandyopadhyay, Saswati (2021). "Cranial morphology of a new phytosaur (Diapsida, Archosauria) from the Upper Triassic of India: implications for phytosaur phylogeny and biostratigraphy". Papers in Palaeontology. 7 (2): 675–708. Bibcode:2021PPal....7..675D. doi:10.1002/spp2.1292. ISSN 2056-2802. S2CID 213698017.
  13. ↑ Mukherjee & Ray, 2012
  14. 1 2 Rakshit, N. & Ray, S. (2020). "Mortality dynamics and fossilisation pathways of a new metoposaurid-dominated multitaxic bonebed from India: a window into the Late Triassic vertebrate palaeoecosystem". Historical Biology
  15. ↑ Bhat, Mohd Shafi; Datta, Debajit; Ray, Sanghamitra; Datta, P. M. (2023-01-02). "A new clevosaurid (Lepidosauria: Rhynchocephalia) from the Upper Triassic of India". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 43 (1). doi:10.1080/02724634.2023.2232833. ISSN 0272-4634.
  16. 1 2 3 Singh, Y. Priyananda; Sharma, K. Milankumar; Tiwari, Raghavendra Prasad; Patnaik, Rajeev; Singh, Nongmaithem Amardas; Singh, Ningthoujam Premjit (27 March 2023). "Lepidosauromorphs and associated vertebrate fauna from the Late Triassic Tiki Formation, South Rewa, Gondwana basin, India: implication for paleoenvironment and paleobiogeography". Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy. 89 (2): 325–346. Bibcode:2023INSAP..89..325S. doi:10.1007/s43538-023-00162-0. ISSN 0370-0046. Retrieved 27 December 2024 – via Springer Nature Link.
  17. ↑ Mukherjee, Debarati; Ray, Sanghamitra (2014). Benson, Roger (ed.). "A new Hyperodapedon (Archosauromorpha, Rhynchosauria) from the Upper Triassic of India: implications for rhynchosaur phylogeny". Palaeontology. 57 (6): 1241–1276. Bibcode:2014Palgy..57.1241M. doi:10.1111/pala.12113. ISSN 0031-0239.
  18. 1 2 Ray, Sanghamitra; Bhat, Mohd Shafi; Datta, P. M. (2021-02-01). "First record of varied archosauriforms from the Upper Triassic of India based on isolated teeth, and their biostratigraphic implications". Historical Biology. 33 (2): 237–253. Bibcode:2021HBio...33..237R. doi:10.1080/08912963.2019.1609957. ISSN 0891-2963.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bhat, M. S.; Ray, S.; Datta, P. M. (2020). "New cynodonts (Therapsida, Eucynodontia) from the Late Triassic of India and their significances". Journal of Paleontology. 95 (2): 376–393. doi:10.1017/jpa.2020.95.
  20. ↑ Datta & Das, 1996
  21. ↑ Ray, S. (2015). "A new Late Triassic traversodontid cynodont (Therapsida, Eucynodontia) from India". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 35 (3) e930472. Bibcode:2015JVPal..35E0472R. doi:10.1080/02724634.2014.930472. S2CID 86368800.
  22. ↑ Datta, P. M. (2005). "Earliest mammal with transversely expanded upper molar from the Late Triassic (Carnian) Tiki Formation, South Rewa Gondwana Basin, India". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 25 (1): 200–207. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025[0200:EMWTEU]2.0.CO;2.
  23. ↑ Averianov, Alexander O.; Voyta, Leonid L. (March 2024). "Putative Triassic stem mammal Tikitherium copei is a Neogene shrew". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 31 (1). doi:10.1007/s10914-024-09703-w. ISSN 1064-7554.
  24. ↑ Chakravorti, Sanjukta; Sengupta, Dhurjati Prasad (2023-03-06). "The first record of chigutisaurid amphibian from the Late Triassic Tiki Formation and the probable Carnian pluvial episode in central India". PeerJ. 11 e14865. doi:10.7717/peerj.14865. ISSN 2167-8359. PMC 9997194.
  25. 1 2 Bhat, Mohd Shafi; Ray, Sanghamitra (2020-03-15). "A record of new lungfishes (Osteichthyes: Dipnoi) from the Carnian (Upper Triassic) of India". Historical Biology. 32 (3): 428–437. Bibcode:2020HBio...32..428B. doi:10.1080/08912963.2018.1499020. ISSN 0891-2963.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Bhat, Mohd Shafi; Ray, Sanghamitra; Datta, P.M. (2018). "A new assemblage of freshwater sharks (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii) from the Upper Triassic of India". Geobios. 51 (4): 269–283. Bibcode:2018Geobi..51..269B. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2018.06.004.
  27. 1 2 Bhat, Mohd Shafi; Ray, Sanghamitra; Datta, P. M. (2018). "A new hybodont shark (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) from the Upper Triassic Tiki Formation of India with remarks on its dental histology and biostratigraphy". Journal of Paleontology. 92 (2): 221–239. Bibcode:2018JPal...92..221B. doi:10.1017/jpa.2017.63. ISSN 0022-3360.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pal, P.K. (1984). "Triassic plant megafossils from the Tiki Formation, South Rewa Gondwana Basin, India". The Palaeobotanist 32(3):253-309.
  29. ↑ Chandra, S. & Tewari, R. (1991). "A Catalogue of Fossil Plants from India Part 2: Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Megafossils". 1-81