Re: extinction

[Tommy Tyrberg <tommy.tyrberg@norrkoping.mail.telia.com>]

>David Marjanovic
>
>> > If anything, the
>> > inter-Trappean beds show an extensive diversity of very large (several
>> > 40ft+ sauropods and ~30ft abelisaurs, smaller abelisaurs, mammals, birds,
>> > turtles, crocs)
>>
>> Birds? That's new!
>
>Indeed it is.  What's the reference for Mesozoic birds in India?
>
>Mickey Mortimer

As far as I know the only references to avian remains in the intertrappan 
deposits are:

Bajpai, S., Sahni, A. & Srinivasan, S. 1993. Ornithoid eggshells from 
Deccan intertrappean beds near Anjar (Kachchh) western India. Current 
Science (Bangalore) 64(1):42-45.

Abstract: We describe here the ornithoid eggshell fragments from the Deccan
intertrappean beds (Late Cretaceous) near Anjar, district Kachchh, Gujarat. 
The find assumes palaeobiogeographic significance as morphologically 
similar eggshells are known from
the Late Cretaceous Nemegt Formation of Mongolia. Taxonomic affinities 
(dinosaurian/avian) of these eggshells cannot be established at present.

Srinivasan, S. 1996. Late Cretaceous eggshells from the Deccan 
volcano-sedimentary sequences of central India. Memoirs, Geological Society 
of India 37:321-336.

Abstract: Four types of thin eggshells of dinosaurian and avian affinities 
are reported from the intertrappean sequences of Mohgaon-Kalan, Chhindwara 
District, Madhya Pradesh and the Lameta Formation of Dongargaon, Chadrapur 
District, Maharashtra, Central India. The morphological and microstructural 
characters of these 'very thin' eggshells namely (?) Hypselosaurus, 
indeterminate dinosaurian type and two types of avian eggshells are 
comparable with those from the Late Maastrichtain, Aix-en-Provence, France 
and some Mongolian eggshells. However, the abnormally thin nature of 
eggshells and the conspicuous absence of resorption craters shows that 
these eggs were under extreme environmental stress, primarily due to Deccan 
volcanism.

Kar-R-K; Srinivasan-S 1997. Late Cretaceous palynofossils from the Deccan 
Intertrappean beds of
Mohgaon-Kalan, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh. Geophytology. 27; 1-2, 
Pages 17-22. 1997. Palaeobotanical Society. Lucknow, India. 1997.

Abstract: A Late Cretaceous palynofossil assemblage was recovered in 
association with a variety of dinosaur/avian egg shell fragments, 
ostracodes, molluscs, fishes and wood pieces from the Deccan
Intertrappean beds at a locality about 0.5 km west of the village 
Mohgaon-Kalan (79 degrees 11'E: 22 degrees 1'E) in Chhindwara District, 
Madhya Pradesh. The common species are: Ariadnaesporites sp., 
Gabonisporites vigourouxii Boltenhagen (1967), Spinizonocolpites Muller 
(1968), Matanomadhiasulcites
maximus Kar (1985), Bacutriporites orluensis Jan du Chene et al. (1978), 
Azolla cretacea Stanley (1965), Aquilapollenites bengalensis Baksi & Deb 
(1981), Triporoletes reticulatus (Pocock) Playford (1971) and 
Cicatricosisporites dorogensis Potonie' & Gelletich (1933).

Not very conclusive, though some of the eggs may very well be avian.

Tommy Tyrberg