Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78)

B. S. Kotlia ¹, JaiShri Sanwal ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Kumaun Uniersity, Narnital- 263 002, Uttaranchal, IN

Abstract

The first as well as the earliest fossil Soriculus (Insectivoia , Mammalia) In the Indian subcontinent is described from the Pliocene fluvio-lacustrine deposits of the Karewa Intermontane basin in the northwestern Himalaya The new species, Soriculus kashmiriensis sp nov, is morphologically close to all the Asian forms of the Tribe Soriculus and comparatively closer to the present day S leucops and S (E ) caudatus Based on the careful examination of avariable fossil as well as Recent material, we propose to merge fossial and living soriculus of Asia into a single genus Soriculus We also choose to include the Indian Episoriculus in Soriculus for taxonomic reasons.

Keywords

Soriculus, Morphology, Evolution, Pliocene, Kashmir Northwestern Himalaya.

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B. S. Kotlia ¹, K. Nakayama ², M. S. Bhalla ³, B. Phartiyal ¹, T. Kosaka ⁴, Moulishree Joshi ¹, Jaishri Sanwal ¹, R. N. Pande ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Kumaun University, Nainital - 263002, IN
2 Department of Geosciences, Shimane University, Matsue - 690-8504, JP
3 National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad - 500007, IN
4 Department of Geology, Shinshu University, Matsurnoto - 390-8621, JP

Abstract

A 2600 m thick succession, exposed between Kathgodam and Ranibagh in the Kumaun Himalaya and belonging to the Lower and Middle Siwalik, was subjected to lithological and palaeomagnetic studies. Lithologically, four units are recognized in the sequence. Units 1-2 are correlated with the upper part of the Lower Siwalik, whereas the Units 3-4 are correlated with the Middle Siwalik. In the absence of the vertebrate fossils and absolute chronology, the lithological boundaries are used to explain the magnetic polarity stratigraphy. We suggest that the lithological boundary between the Lower and Middle Siwalik (e.g., Chinji-Nagri) in the Kathgodam-Ranibagh section lies at ca. 850 m level and is palaeomagnetically estimated as ca. 9.8 Ma. If such a correlation is correct, the section ranges in age from Chron 5 An to Chron 2 Ar (ca. 12.0 to 4.0 Ma).

Keywords

Siwalik, Lithology, Palaeomagnetic Chronology, Kumaun Himalaya.

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