Late Cretaceous Dinosaur Eggs and Eggshells of Peninsular India: Oospecies Diversity and Taphonomical, Palaeoenvironmental, Biostratigraphical and Palaeobiogeographical Inferences

This book analyzes the Late Cretaceous dinosaur nesting sites of India, focusing on the east-central Narbada River region. It provides detailed information on dinosaur eggs, eggshell fragments, nests, and clutches found in the Lameta Formation. The study reconstructs the morphotaxonomy, burial patterns, taphonomic implications, and palaeoenvironmental conditions of the Late Cretaceous. It emphasizes the need for a parataxonomic classification for Indian dinosaur eggs and eggshell types and highlights the recovery of numerous nests, collapsed eggs, and hundreds of dinosaur eggshell fragments from the localities near the east, west, and central Narbada River regions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 22 October 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book presents comprehensive analyses of Late Cretaceous dinosaur nesting sites located in various regions of India. These sites include the Lameta Formation in Jabalpur, Dhar, and Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh; the Kheda and Panchmahal districts in Gujarat; and the Pisdura, Dongargaon, and Pavna sectors in the Chandrapur Districts of Maharashtra. The study focuses on the east-central Narbada River region, including its regional geology, and aims to provide detailed information on dinosaur eggs, eggshell fragments, nests, and clutches found in the Lameta Formation.

Prior to this work, there had been limited systematic research on the taxonomy, micro- and ultrastructural studies of dinosaur eggs, and eggshells from the Lameta Formation. The study encompasses field and laboratory investigations that facilitated the reconstruction of the morphotaxonomy, models for the burial pattern of eggs and eggshells, taphonomic implications, and the palaeoenvironmental context and palaeoecological conditions during the Late Cretaceous when the Deccan traps were extruded.

One of the key findings of the study is the apparent need for a parataxonomic classification system for Indian dinosaur eggs and eggshell types. The emphasis on the application of parataxonomic schemes is based on the description of new oospecies and their comparison with previously known forms. The present work has led to the recovery of numerous nests, many collapsed eggs, and hundreds of dinosaur eggshell fragments from localities near the east, west, and central Narbad.

The book is organized into several chapters, each covering a specific aspect of the research. The first chapter provides an introduction to the study area, including its geological setting and the distribution of dinosaur nesting sites. The second chapter discusses the methodology used in the field and laboratory investigations, including the sampling techniques, analytical methods, and reconstruction techniques employed.

The third chapter presents the results of the morphotaxonomic analysis, which involved the classification and identification of dinosaur eggs and eggshell fragments based on their morphology. The fourth chapter explores the burial pattern of eggs and eggshells, including the factors that influenced their distribution and preservation. The fifth chapter discusses the taphonomic implications of the findings, including the processes that led to the preservation and decay of the eggs and eggshells.

The sixth chapter examines the palaeoenvironmental context and palaeoecological conditions during the Late Cretaceous, including the climate, vegetation, and habitat of the dinosaurs. The seventh chapter discusses the implications of the study for understanding the extinction of dinosaurs, including the role of the Deccan traps in their demise.

The eighth chapter summarizes the key findings of the study and provides recommendations for future research. The book concludes by emphasizing the importance of continued research on dinosaur nesting sites and eggshells in order to better understand the evolution and extinction of these fascinating creatures.

In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of the Late Cretaceous dinosaur nesting sites of India, focusing on the east-central Narbada River region. The study highlights the need for a parataxonomic classification system for Indian dinosaur eggs and eggshell types and provides valuable insights into the burial pattern, taphonomic implications, and palaeoenvironmental context of these sites. The findings of the study have significant implications for understanding the extinction of dinosaurs and the evolution of the Indian continent.

Weight: 462g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030564568
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020