Ediacaran Discs from the Jodhpur Sandstone, Marwar Supergroup, India: A Biological Diversification or Taphonomic Interplay?

Abstract

The noncarbonaceous Ediacaran discs of variable morphologies from the Jodhpur Sandstone Formation of the Marwar Supergroup, western Rajasthan, suggest different biologic affinities of plant and animal kingdom. These discs are commonly preserved on the bedding surfaces of siliciclastic sandstone and shale in strong positive relief and appear to possess a flexible to rigid body. Discs assignable to Aspidella, Cyclomedusa, Nimbia and Heimalora; all possibly inclining towards cnidarian affinity are being reported from the sandstone beds in Sursagar area. Variable morphologies among discs preserved in siliciclastic shale beds from the Artiya Kalan area support scyphozoan affinity (earlier named Marsonia from the same locality) and cnidarian affinity for small discs comparable with Funisia (considered being the first animals having sexual reproduction). Disc’s morphologies also suggest ephyra stage of Aurilia (a cnidarian form) or budding stages of some fungi, like Germinosphaera (multicellular benthic fungal fossils) and noncarbonaceous discs with well preserved wrinkles and folds like in Chuaria. Discs from the Jodhpur Sandstone, may at times display taphonomic interplay, but consistency and repetition in morphology support variable biological affinities representing diverse assemblage and advance ecosystem prevailing during Ediacaran period. A degree of genetic variability can be expected within any taxa, and this may be compounded by preservation factors affecting the Jodhpur Ediacaran discs. Sudden increase in size or gigantism is a common feature of Ediacaran life, which is evident in case of Jodhpur discs also. On the basis of fossil assemblage, the Jodhpur Group (the Marwar Supergroup) is regionally correlated with the Bhander Group of the Vindhyan Supergroup and Krol Group of Lesser Himalaya. Globally, the assemblage is comparable with the Long Mynd Group, Shropshire, UK, Fermuse Formation Newfoundland, South Australia, Russia and Norway.

Share and Cite:

P. Srivastava, "Ediacaran Discs from the Jodhpur Sandstone, Marwar Supergroup, India: A Biological Diversification or Taphonomic Interplay?," International Journal of Geosciences, Vol. 3 No. 5, 2012, pp. 1120-1126. doi: 10.4236/ijg.2012.35113.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] S. Xiao and M. Laflamme, “On the Eve of Animal Radiation: Phylogeny, Ecology and Evolution of the Ediacaran Biota,” Trends in Ecology and Evolution, Vol. 24, No. 1, 2008, pp. 31-40. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2008.07.015
[2] T. P. Crimes and D. Mcllroy, “A Biota of Ediacaran Aspect from Lower Cambrian Strata on the Digermul Peninsula, Arctic Norway,” Geological Magazine, Vol. 136, No. 6, 1999, pp. 633-642. doi:10.1017/S0016756899003179
[3] R. K. Bambach, A. H. Knoll and J. J. Sepkoski, “Anatomical and Ecological Constraints on Phanerozoic Animal Diversity in Marine Realm,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 99, No.10, 2007, pp. 6854-6859. doi:10.1073/pnas.092150999
[4] B. A. MacGabhann, “Discoidal Fossils of the Ediacaran biota: A Review of Current Understanding,” Geological Society of London: Special Publication, Vol. 286, No. 1, 2007, pp.297-313. doi:10.1144/SP286.21
[5] H. S. Pareek, “Quaternary Geology and Mineral Resources of Northwestern Rajasthan,” Memoir of Geological Survey of India, Vol. 115, 1984, pp. 1-95.
[6] S. S. Rathore, T. R. Venkatesan and R. K. Srivastava, “Rb/Sr Isotope Dating of Neoproterozoic (Malani Group) Magmatism from Southwest Rajasthan, India: Evidence of Younger Pan-African Thermal Event by 40Ar-39Ar Studies”, Gondwana Research, Vol. 2, No. 2, 1999, pp. 271-181. doi:10.1016/S1342-937X(05)70151-9
[7] A. Mazumdar and H. Staruss, “Sulfur and Strontium Isotopic Compositions of Carbonate and Evaporate Rocks from the Late Neoproterozoic—Early Cambrian Bilara Group (Nagaur-Ganganagar Basin, India): Constraints on Intrabasinal Correlation and Global Sulfur Cycle,” Precambrian Research, Vol. 149, No. 3-4, 2006, pp. 217-230. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2006.06.008
[8] M. K. Pandit, A. N. Sial, S. S. Jamrani and V. P. Ferreira, “Carbon Isotope Profile across the Bilara Group Rocks of Trans Aravalli Marwar Supergroup in Western Rajasthan, India: Implications for Neproterozoic-Cambrian Transition,” Gondwana Research, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2001, pp. 387394. doi:10.1016/S1342-937X(05)70338-5
[9] P. Srivastava, “Treptichnus pedum: An Ichnofossil Representing Ediacaran-Cambrian Boundary in the Nagaur Group, the Marwar Supergroup, Rajasthan, India,” Proceedings Indian National Science Academy, Vol. 78, No. 2, 2012, pp. 161-169..
[10] B. Prasad, R. Asher and B. Bargohai, “Late Neoproterozoic (Ediacaran)—Early Palaeozoic (Cambrian) Acritarchs from the Marwar Supergroup, Bikaner-Nagaur Basin, Rajasthan,” Geological Society of India, Vol. 75, No. 2, 2010, pp. 415-431.
[11] S. Kumar and S. K. Pandey, “Note on the Occurrence of Arumberia banksi and Associated Fossils from the Jodhpur Sandstone, Marwar Supergroup, Western Rajasthan,” Journal Palaeontological Society of India, Vol. 54, No. 2, 2009, pp. 171-178.
[12] P. Srivastava, “Problematic Worms and Priapulid—Like Fossils from the Nagaur Group, the Marwar Supergroup, India,” Ichnos, Vol. 19, No. 3, 2012, pp. 156-164. doi:10.1080/10420940.2012.702606
[13] D. S. Chauhan, B. Ram and N. Ram, “Jodhpur Sandstone: A Gift of Ancient Beaches to Western Rajasthan,” Journal Geological Society of India, Vol. 64, 2004, pp. 265276.
[14] S. Sarkar, P. K. Bose, P. Samanta, P. Sengupta and P. Eriksson, “Microbial Mat Mediated Structures in the Ediacaran Sonia Sandstone, Rajasthan, India and Their Implications for Proterozoic Sedimentation,” Precambrian Research, Vol. 162, No. 1-2, 2008, pp. 248-263. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2007.07.019
[15] S. Kumar, P. K. Misra and S. K. Pandey, “Ediacaran Megaplant Fossils with Vaucherian Affinity from the Jodhpur Sandstone, Marwar Supergroup, Western Rajasthan,” Current Science, Vol. 97, No. 5, 2009, pp. 701705.
[16] K. S. Raghav, C. De and R. L. Jain, “The First Record of Vendian Medusoids and Trace Fossil Bearing Algal Mat Ground from the Basal Part of the Marwar Supergroup of Rajasthan, India,” Indian Minerals, Vol. 59, No. 1-2, 2005, pp. 2330.
[17] D. Mcllroy, T. P. Crimes and C. J. Pauley, “Fossils and Matgrounds from the Neoproterozoic Longmyndian Supergroup, Shropshire, UK,” Geological. Magazine, Vol. 142, No. 4, 2005, pp. 441-455. doi:10.1017/S0016756805000555
[18] M. L. Droser and J. G. Gehling, “Synchronous Aggregate Growth in an Abundant New Ediacaran Tubular Organism,” Science, Vol. 319, No. 5870, 2008, pp. 1660-1662. doi:10.1126/science.1152595
[19] N. J. Butter?eld, “Probable Proterozoic Fungi,” Palaeobiology, Vol. 31, No. 1, 2005, pp. 165-182. doi:10.1666/0094-8373(2005)031<0165:PPF>2.0.CO;2
[20] B. R. Vashishtha, “Botany for Degree Students. Part-1,” Algae, S. Chand and Company Limited, 1977, p. 545.
[21] M. A. Fedonkin, “Nonskeletal Fauna of the Podolian Pridnyestrovya,” In: V. A. Velikanov, E. A. Aseeva and M. A. Fedonkin, Eds., Vend Ukrainy, Nauk Dumka, Kiev, 1983, pp.128-139.
[22] G. M. Narbonne and J. D. Aitken, “Ediacaran Fossils from the Sekwi Brook Area, Mackenzie Mountains, Northwestern Canada,” Journal of Palaeontology, Vol. 33, No. 4, 1990, pp. 945-980.
[23] B. S. Sokolov, “Organic World of the Earth on Its Way to the Phanerozoic Differentiation,” Vestrik Akademii, Nauk SSSR, Vol. 1, 1976, pp. 126-143.
[24] J. B. Caron and A. Jackson, “Palaeoecology of the Greater Phyllopod Bed Community, Burgess Shale,” Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology and Palaeoecology, Vol. 258, No. 3, 2008, pp. 222-256. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2007.05.023
[25] G. M. Narbonne, “The Ediacara Biota: Neoproterozoic Origin of Animals and Their Ecosystems,” Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Science, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2005, pp. 421-442. doi:10.1146/annurev.earth.33.092203.122519
[26] N. C. Hughes, “Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Flexibility in a Cambrian Trilobite,” Geology, Vol. 19, No. 9, 1991, pp. 913-916. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0913:MPAGFI>2.3.CO;2
[27] S. Kumar and S. K. Pandey, “Trace Fossils from the Nagaur Sandstone, Marwar Supergroup, Dulmera Area, Bikaner District, Rajasthan, Indian,” Journal of Asian Earth Science, Vol. 38, No. 3-4, 2010, pp. 77-85.

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.