Agathoxylon santacruzense Kloster & Gnaedinger from the Lower–Middle Jurassic Kota Formation, India and its paleoenvironmental implications

Authors

  • Chopparapu Chinnappa Department of Botany (PG), Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada 520008, Andhra Pradesh, India.
  • Pauline Sabina Kavali Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, Uttar Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4072/rbp.2020.4.01

Abstract

Agathoxylon santacruzense (Araucariaceae) is reported here from the Lower–Middle Jurassic Kota Formation of Pranhita-Godavari Basin, India. The taxon was originally described from the Middle Jurassic sediments of La Matilde Formation, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. The wood has low percentage of latewood, and abrupt transitions of early-latewood reflects periods of intense growth. The growth ring parameters indicate that the growth conditions were seasonal but mostly stressful, and in some periods presented an erratic interruption. These growth rings show close similarity to those of modern tropical to subtropical conifers growing in the southern hemisphere. These results are concurrent with the broad subtropical belt that existed in the Jurassic.

Keywords: Agathoxylon, Jurassic, palaeoenvironments, Kota Formation, India.

RESUMO – Agathoxylon santacruzense (Araucariaceae) é aqui descrita para a Formação Kota do Jurássico Inferior–Médio da Bacia de Pranhita-Godavari, Índia. O táxon foi originalmente descrito a partir do Jurássico Médio da Formação La Matilde, Província de Santa Cruz, Argentina. A madeira com baixo percentual de lenho tardio e transição abrupta de lenho tardio reflete períodos de intenso crescimento. Os parâmetros do anel de crescimento indicam que as condições de crescimento foram sazonais, mas principalmente estressantes e em alguns períodos apresentaram uma interrupção errática. Esses anéis de crescimento apresentam semelhanças mais próximas com os das coníferas tropicais atuais e subtropicais que crescem no hemisfério sul. Esses resultados são compatíveis com o amplo cinturão subtropical que existia no Jurássico.

Palavras-chave: Agathoxylon, Jurassic, paleoambientes, Formação Kota, Índia.

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Published

2020-12-16

How to Cite

Chinnappa, C., & Kavali, P. S. (2020). Agathoxylon santacruzense Kloster & Gnaedinger from the Lower–Middle Jurassic Kota Formation, India and its paleoenvironmental implications. Revista Brasileira De Paleontologia, 23(4), 227–233. https://doi.org/10.4072/rbp.2020.4.01