Lower Dharmaram Formation

The Lower Dharmaram Formation is a sedimentary rock formation found in Telangana, India. It is one of the formations of the Pranhita–Godavari Basin. It is of latest Norian and Rhaetian ages (Upper Triassic), and is notable for its fossils of early dinosaurs.

Lower Dharmaram Formation
Stratigraphic range: Latest Norian–Rhaetian ~211–202 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Gondwana Group
Underlies	Upper Dharmaram Formation
Overlies	Upper Maleri Formation
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone, Mudstone
Location
Coordinates	19.2°N 79.6°E / 19.2; 79.6
Approximate paleocoordinates	32.3°S 36.1°E / -32.3; 36.1
Region	Telangana
Country	India
Extent	Pranhita–Godavari Basin
Type section
Named for	Dharmaram
Lower Dharmaram Formation (India)

Vertebrate fauna

cf. Paratypothorax, cf. Nicrosaurus, fragmentary remains of sauropodomorphs (ISI R279, 280, 281) and neotheropods (ISI R283) have also been recovered from it.^[1]

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.

Saurischians

Saurischians reported from the Lower Dharmaram Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Jaklapallisaurus	J. assymetrica[1]	Telangana		"ISI R279, distal end of right femur."[1]	A unaysaurid, also found in the Upper Maleri Formation.
Sauropodomorpha	Indeterminate	Telangana		"ISIR 280, astragalus."	An Indeterminate Sauropodomorpha.
Neotheropoda	Indeterminate	Telangana		"ISIR 283, incomplete femur."	An Indeterminate Neotheropod.

Pseudosuchians

Pseudosuchians reported from the Lower Dharmaram Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Kuttysuchus	K. minor[2]	Telangana			A typothoracine aetosaur.
Venkatasuchus	V. armatus[3]	Telangana			A typothoracine aetosaur
cf. Paratypothorax	sp.	Telangana
cf. Nicrosaurus	sp.	Telangana
Desmatosuchinae indet.[3]		Telangana

Correlations

The formation has been correlated with the Lower Elliot Formation (Karoo Basin) and Forest Sandstone of Africa, the Caturrita Formation of the Paraná Basin in Brazil, the Laguna Colorada and Los Colorados Formations (Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin) of Argentina, the Chinle Formation of North America, the Trossingen Formation of the Keuper of Germany, and the Nam Phong Formation of Thailand.^[4]

See also

• Geology portal
• Paleontology portal

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations