Crocodylian Tracks from Lower Oligocene Flysch deposits of the Barail Group, Manipur, India

Abstract

A marine tidal delta siltstone from Gelmon locality in Northeast India preserved three crocodylian footprints and an elongate depression that appears to be a tail drag mark. Similar drag marks occur in nearby bedding surfaces. The discovery of crocodylian tracks from the basal part of Laisong Formation, Barail Group (Late Eocene–Early Oligocene age) of Manipur, India is noteworthy because of the age and the geographic location. Crocodylian tracks are rare in Cenozoic formations and they have not previously been reported from Asia. The footprints are herein named as a new ichnogenus and ichnospecies, Indosuchipes manipurensis.

Keywords:

• Crocodylian tracks
• Lower Oligocene
• Laisong Formation
• Barail Group
• Manipur

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Kim Trebatoski of Ecoplanz Inc., Fort Meyers, Florida (USA), for allowing us to publish her excellent alligator trackways photo (Fig. 8). R.T. McCrea, A. P. Hunt, J. O. Farlow, one anonymous reviewer, and the editor provided helpful comments for improving the manuscript.

Funding

We are thankful to the DST-ESS, Government of India, New Delhi, for the grant received Vide No. IR/S4/ES-441/2009.