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Characterization of Dichotomoceras in the Oxfordian of Kachchh

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 JOURNAL GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA
Vol.74, October 2009, pp.469-479

Characterization of Dichotomoceras in the Oxfordian of Kachchh

JAI KRISHNA, BINDHYACHAL PANDEY and DEO BRAT PATHAK

Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221 005

Abstract: We report here the first Dichotomoceras of the Indian subcontinent at Kantkote (Wagad) in the proximal most
exposed part of the Kachchh Basin. This is further addition to the significant enlargement of the Oxfordian ammonoid
record made earlier (Krishna et al. 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000). Near continuous presence of ammonoids has been recorded
in ca 55 m thick succession, almost immediately above the Schilli Subzone, that was considered ammonoid devoid
earlier. The ammonoid density, diversity and frequency in this just discovered ca 55 m thick column are much scarcer in
comparison to the underlying 10 m thick ammonoid abundant Schilli Subzone.
Examples of Dichotomoceras are determined almost throughout the said interval which in our preliminary taxonomic
evaluation appear identical or close to D. rotoides (Ronch.), D. stenocycloides (Siem.), D. bifurcatus (Quenst.) and
D. crassus Enay. It thus suggests the characterization of the Rotoides Subzone of the Transversarium Zone and the
superjacent Bifurcatus Zone of the column at least up to the early Late Oxfordian.

Keywords: Ammonoids, Dichotomoceras, Jurassic, Oxfordian, Kachchh, Gujarat.

INTRODUCTION disposed north of KMF and east of the MH in Banni, and

Tectonic Backdrop
Kachchh is a classic pericratonic rift basin in the
extreme west of India. It originated near the Triassic /
Jurassic boundary. The Early Jurassic sediments are only
encountered in the subsurface wells (Biswas, 1982; Koshal,
1984). The Middle to Late Jurassic rift-fill sediments crop
out extensively in six domally uplifted blocks (Kachchh
Mainland, Patcham, Bela, Khadir, Chorar and Wagad)
(Fig.1). The basin is featured by residual upfaulted basement
ridges parallel to the ancient regional east-west striking
structural trend of the Narmada – Son – Damodar lineament,
among which the Kachchh Mainland Fault (KMF) (Biswas,
1980) is the most important one. The KMF divides the basin
into two main depo-centres - the relatively shallower Banni
subbasin and the relatively less shallow Kachchh Mainland
subbasin on its north and south respectively for the reason
of the rifting activity younging stepwise from north to south
(Biswas, 2002). Across the primary east-west style of the
basin is superposed a NNE - SSW striking structural high
termed Median High (MH) which is here suggested to have
originated at the late Middle Oxfordian Schilli Subzone /
Rotoides Subzone boundary. To the west of MH, the basin
is relatively less shallow while to the east it is much
shallower. Wagad is the most proximal exposed uplift
includes the important ammonoid bearing late Middle – early
Late Oxfordian development at Kantkote (Fig.2) which is
the subject matter of our exposition here in the present
contribution.
Ammonoid Stratigraphic Record
The recent studies of last two decades of collections
made under the rigorest stratigraphic control have revived
and refocused global interest in the Kachchh Jurassic as the
prime Gondwanian (South) Tethyan region of high potential
for the realization of an independent South Tethyan
ammonoid zonal standard. Substantive progress in this
direction has already been made in terms of formulation of
independent scales developed in the Kachchh Mainland for
the Callovian (ca 200 m thick, 155 ammonoid levels, 6 zones,
15 subzones and 25 horizons), part of the Kimmeridgian
(ca 100 m thick, 30 ammonoid levels, 4 zones, 11 subzones
and 19 horizons) and Tithonian (ca 130 m thick, 35
ammonoid levels, 4 zones, 10 subzones and 13 horizons)
(Krishna and Ojha, 1996; Krishna et al. 1996a,b). Bardhan
et al. (2002) and Roy et al. (2007) have identified 3 zones,
4 subzones and 9 horizons in Bathonian of the west Mainland
(Jumara, Nara and Jhura) while Jana et al. (2000, 2005) and
Shome and Bardhan (2005) have made some useful
contributions to Callovian biostratigraphy of Kachchh

0016-7622/2009-74-4-469/$ 1.00 © GEOL. SOC. INDIA

 470

Kakendia
Bet Gangta
Bet

0 0
70 30' 0
70 40' 70 45'
SCALE IN KILOMETERS
Mts. 1000 0 1 2 3 4 5 Kms
Modified after Deshpande & Merh 1980
JADASA
SUVI

RAPAR
TRAMBAU
BHARODIA
JAI KRISHNA AND OTHERS

E
OS
IN
AR
OB
CHOBARI CH
0
MAWANA DOME
0
22 22
KAKARWA ANTICLINE
30' WAGAD ANTICLINE 30'
K KANTKOTE DOME
A N
MANFARA T
K O KANTKOTE
T E

GA
M HADARGADH SYNCLINE
DA TORANIA DOME
U KHAROL
SY NARA DOME
NC DOME
LIN
MAE E

MAE DOME SOUT WAMKA DOME

HW
AGAD
CHITROD
FAUL GHANTODIA
T DOMES CHITROD DOME
WASHTAWA DOME
MALRAE DOME ADHOI
ADHOI ANTICLINE SHIVLAKHA
0 0 0
70 30' 70 40' 70 45'

Fig.1. Schematic geological map of Kachchh with important Jurassic localities and major structural features.

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.74, OCT. 2009

 CHARACTERIZATION OF Dichotomoceras IN THE OXFORDIAN OF KACHCHH, GUJARAT
BERR.
TITH.
KIMM.
Sandstone
Submarine Hiatus
OXF. Shale
Glauconite
CALL. Oolite
G S M L JU N K
Basin
G = Ghuneri, S = Sahera, M = Mundhan, L = Lakhapur, JU = Jumara, N = Nara, K = Keera, J = Jhura,
H = Habbo, JH = Jhuran, W = Wagad
Fig.2. Ammonoid age control in the schematic Jurassic chronostratigraphic profile of Kachchh with emphasis on the
Oxfordian at Kantkote (Wagad) in the late Middle Callovian – Early Tithonian 2nd order sequence.
including Wagad. The showcase windowed here is on late
Middle – early Late Oxfordian ammonoid succession
discovered in early 2002 at Kantkote outside Kachchh
Mainland, which in the European Tethys corresponds to the
full range of Dichotomoceras. This interval is otherwise not
exposed elsewhere in the basin and is instead found included
in a submarine hiatus in most of the Kachchh Mainland
(Fig. 2). Earlier for over a century and half since the first
illustration of an Oxfordian ammonoid Mayaites maya
(Sowerby), the Oxfordian record has been mostly restricted
to the stratigraphically condensed Dhosa oolite unit in the
greater part of the Mainland Kachchh of Early and early
Middle Oxfordian ammonoids. However, parts of Middle
and Late Oxfordian were suspected through stratigraphically
imprecised collections from Kantkote in the works of
Waagen (1873-75) and Spath (1927-33). Krishna et al.
(1994, 1995, 1998) discovered and described an ammonoid
abundant stratigraphic section from which were recorded
the stratigraphically significant rich Larcheria and a few
Gregoryceras in addition of Mayaitinae, Perisphinctinae,
Euaspidoceratinae (Fig. 3) along with a few examples of
Lytoceratina and Phylloceratina. This Kantkote ammonoid
fauna is the densest and most diverse of the entire Kachchh
Mesozoic in spite of coming from one of the shallowest
sites of basin located north of KMF as also east of MH in
the proximal-most part of the basin. It was noteworthy
that the Perisphinctinae record of this fauna did not include
any Dichotomoceras. In early 2002 in our 2nd visit to
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.74, OCT. 2009
471
Kilianella
Argentiniceras
Micracanthoceras
Virgatosphinctes
Aulacosphinctoides
Katroliceras
Pachysphinctes
Torquatisphinctes
Ataxioceras
Orthosphinctes
Dichotomoceras
Larcheria
Mayaites
Peltoceras
Kinkeliniceras
Reineckeia
Macrocephalites
J H JH W
Margin
Kantkote, we found ammonoids, although drastically
reduced in diversity and density in the immediately
succeeding 55 m sediment interval of the same stratigraphic
section, which we had in our earlier 1994 reconnaissance
survey, thought ammonoid devoid. The ammonoid fauna
spreading through the succession of about 39 ammonoid
levels from beds II-01 to VII-20 (Fig. 3) in preliminary
evaluation is found to suggest significant presence of
Dichotomoceras in addition of very rare Euaspidoceras,
Subdiscosphinctes, Aureimontanites, Dichotomosphinctes,
Pseudarisphinctes, Liosphinctes and fragments of
varicostate Perisphinctes ss. macroconch. However, only
Dichotomoceras are systematically and stratigraphically
evaluated in this contribution.
PALEONTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
In our preliminary evaluation of the ca 55 m post Schilli
Subzone 39 ammonoid level column from beds II-01 to VII-
20 (Fig.3) is heavily to almost exclusively skewed in favour
of Perisphinctinae. In comparison to the immediately
underlying Schilli Subzone, both ammonoid density and
diversity have drastically reduced. In context of relative
proportion, Phylloceratina, Lytoceratina, Taramelliceratinae,
Mayaitinae and Peltoceratinae present in Schilli Subzone
are absent in the immediately overlying succession.
In terms of genera, there is heavy domination of
Dichotomoceras over Euaspidoceras. Although very rare
 CHARI FORMATION K A T R O L F O R M A T I O N LITHOSTRATIGR-
APHIC UNITS
472

SEDIMENT

I
II
III
VI

IV
VII
INTERVALS

NUMBER OF

16
10
22
14

22
22

30
BEDS/BANDS

NUMBER OF

6
8

13
5
8

4
AMMONOID
LEVELS

LITHOCOLUMN

?
?

?
?

?
?
?
?
?

?
?
?
?
?
?
?

0
2m

along with differentiation of subzones.

Larcheria subschilli

Larcheria larcheri

Dichotomosphinctes wartae

LEGEND
Dichotomoceras rotoites

shale/silt

sandstone
Ammonoids
Dichotomoceras
? gr. Stenocycloides

Dichotomoceras
? gr. bifurcatus

Shale/silt with laminated fine

Dichotomoceras
JAI KRISHNA AND OTHERS

Medium to Fine sandstone with

crassus

Perisphinctes

Subdiscosphinctes

Liosphinctes
Pachyplanulites
Pseudarisphinctes
Euaspidoceras
Gregoryceras

Taramelliceras
Mayaites

S t e n o c y c l o i d e s SUBZONES/
Schilli Rotoides HORIZON
Transversarium B i f u r c a t u s ZONES

late Middle e a r l y L a t e SUBSTAGES

O x f o r d i a n STAGE

Fig.3. The late Middle to early Late Oxfordian lithostratigraphic column with ranges of stratigraphically significant genera and species

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.74, OCT. 2009

 CHARACTERIZATION OF Dichotomoceras IN THE OXFORDIAN OF KACHCHH, GUJARAT
Dichotomosphinctes, Pachyplanulites, Larcheria,
Aureimontanites, Subdiscosphinctes, Liosphinctes,
Pseudarisphinctes, and Perisphinctes s.s. are also present.
In examples with better preserved innermost whorls, the
diagnostic concave upward pattern of the Dichotomoceras
rib density is indicated. The ammonoid examples are
invariably incomplete and poorly preserved whorl fragments.
Even complete phragmocones are rare and body chamber
portions still rarer. Dichotomoceras ranges almost
throughout the 39 ammonoid levels from beds II-01 to VII-
20.
In view of the very poor material, the determination of
Dichotomoceras in fragments is only suggestive. The
stratigraphic position of the material above the firmly and
undisputed determined Schilli Subzone below and forward
projection of ribbing on the mid-venter also supports that it
should belong to Rotoides Subzone and Bifurcatus Zone
interval.
The Dichotomoceras record includes the
stratigraphically significant D. rotoides (Ronch.), D. gr.
stenocycloides (Siem.), D. gr. bifurcatus (Quenst.) and D.
crassus Enay. The basal most part of the stratigraphic section
also includes Dichotomosphinctes wartae (Buckowski) (
Pl. 2, Figs. 1a,b, 2a,b, 3a,b). The ammonoid examples are
mostly incomplete whorl fragments, mostly showing quarter
to halves of two successive whorls. Only a few examples
include part of body-chamber. Nevertheless, the
measurements, particularly, the rib-density, has influenced
the taxonomic determination either with the aforementioned
European species or exhibiting close morphological affinity
with them. Incidentally, this is the first ever determination
of the stratigraphically significant basal Late Oxfordian
ammonoid genus Dichotomoceras from anywhere in the
Asian and West Pacific region. In this context, reference
need be made of Dichotomoceras predivisum Spath (1927
- 33, IV, p. 422, Pl. 97, Fig. 2, Pl. 98, Fig. 2) from lower
Katrol beds of Walakhawas collected at about 6m above
the Dhosa Oolite and assigned to Kimmeridgian. On close
scrutiny it is found to have nothing to do with true
Dichotomoceras and instead looks like Indodichotomoceras
of early Late Kimmeridgian Bathyplocus Zone (Krishna and
Pathak, 1993). Stratigraphically, there is a well established
gap in the entire Mainland above the Dhosa oolite and the
immediately overlying several tens of meter thick succession
is of late Early to late Late Kimmeridgian age (Krishna and
Pathak, 1993). On the other hand Dichotomoceras
throughout the world is known as restricted to late Middle
to Late Oxfordian (Cariou and Hantzpergue, 1997). The
stratigraphically significant species of Dichotomoceras are
evaluated here.
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.74, OCT. 2009
473
Taxonomy
Superfamily : Perisphinctacae Steinmann, 1890
Family : Perisphinctidae Steinmann, 1890
Subfamily : Perisphinctinae Steinmann, 1890
Genus : Dichotomoceras Buckman, 1919
Type Species : Dichotomoceras dichotomum Buckman,
1919
Dichotomoceras rotoides (Ronch.)
(Plate 1, Figs. 2a,b ; 4a,b ; 5a,b)
Synonymy
1917. Perisphinctes rotoides Ronchadze, p.11, Pl. 1,
fig. 8.
1917. Perisphinctes variens Oppenheimer, Ronchadze,
p.37, Pl. V, figs. 41-42.
1937. Perisphinctes (Dichotomosphinctes) rotoides
Ronchadze, Arkell, p.447.
1937. Perisphinctes (Dichotomosphinctes) rotoides
Ronchadze, Arkell, p.90, Pl. XVI, figs. 1-7.
1959. Perisphinctes variens Ronchadze, Collignon,
p.37, Pl. V, figs. 41-42.
1966. Perisphinctes ( Dichotomosphinctes) rotoides
Ronchadze, Enay, p.467, Pl. 27, figs. 9-11.
1984. Perisphinctes ( Dichotomosphinctes) rotoides
Ronchadze - Tarkowski, Pl.14, fig. 6.
2000. Perisphinctes ( Dichotomoceras) rotoides
Ronchadze - Gygi, p.84, Pl. 9, fig. 1.
Material: 3 specimens, Nos. 18031 and 18044
respectively from bed II-08 and II-10, moderately preserved
with nearly ½ of the outer whorl as body chamber; No. 18043
from bed II-10, entirely septate.
Horizon: Beds II-08 to II-10.
Locality:Northeast of village Kantkote, Wagad,
Kachchh, India.
Description: Size moderate up to 77 mm D (present
examples), body chamber initiating between 55 mm to
64 mm D, moderately compressed, umbilicus wide,
umbilical wall steep to vertical, umbilical shoulder rounded,
laterals convex, ventro-lateral shoulder rounded, ventre
rounded, ribs fine, dense, mostly biplicate with rare single
intercalatries, primaries from near the base of the umbilical
wall, sharp and strong, almost straight on laterals (22 per
half whorl at 77 mm D), secondaries from above the 2/3rd
of whorl height, projected forward and uninterrupted on
ventre.
Comparison and Remarks: The present examples
strongly resemble the holotype of D. rotoides (Ronchadze),
1917, p. 11, Pl. 1, Fig.8 and Perisphinctes (Dichotomoceras)
474 JAI KRISHNA AND OTHERS
rotoides Ronchadze - Gygi, (Gygi, 2000, p. 84, Pl. 9,
Fig. 1) in morphology and ornamentations particularly in
rib density (22 to 24 primaries per half whorl) and ribbing
patterns. In addition to the above discussed examples there
are also present several whorl fragments of about quarter
whorl of either body chamber or later part of phragmocone
which in whorl section and rib density match with D. rotoides
(Ronchadze).
Age: Rotoides Subzone, Transversrium Zone, late
Middle Oxfordian.
Dichotomoceras gr. stenocycloides (Siem.)
(Plate 2, Figs. 4a,b; Plate 3, Figs. 2a,b; 5a,b)
Material: 3 specimens, Nos. 18108 from bed VII-20,
moderately preserved with nearly ½ of the outer whorl as
body chamber; No. 18109 and 18105 respectively from beds
VII-12 and VII -18 are septate (several poorly preserved
fragments also recorded from beds III-01 to VII-20).
Horizon: Beds III-01 to VII-20
Locality: Northeast of village Kantkote, Wagad,
Kachchh, India.
Description: Size moderate up to 115 mm D (present
examples), body chamber between 100 mm to 110 mm D,
whorl section compressed to quadrate, umbilicus wide,
umbilical wall nearly rounded, umbilical shoulder rounded,
laterals nearly flat, ventro-lateral shoulder rounded, ventre
broadly arched, ribs distinct, fairly spaced, mostly biplicate
with common single intercalatries (5 to 6 per half whorl),
primaries from just below the umbilical shoulder, sharp and
strong, almost straight on laterals, secondaries from above
the 2/3rd of whorl height, sharp and strong as primaries
projected forward and uninterrupted on ventre.
Comparison and Remarks: The present specimens
appear morphologically close to the Perisphinctes
(Dichotomoceras) stenocycloides Siemiradzki, (Gygi, 2000,
p. 85, Pl. 9, Fig.3) in morphology and ribbing patterns while
the rib density is somewhat sparser with 27 to 29 primaries
in comparison to 32 primaries in Gygi’s (2000) example on
the last preserved half whorl. The Kachchh examples,
however, in view of the presence of relatively more single
intercalatries and sparser primaries, are held here only as
belonging to the group of stenocycloides instead of being
the same species.
Age : Stenocycloides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early
Late Oxfordian.
Dichotomoceras gr. bifurcatus (Quenst.)
(Plate 3, Figs.1a,b; 3a,b; 4a,b)
Material: Number of fragments in major part of range
of Dichotomoceras. 3 fairly preserved specimens, Nos.
18107 from bed VII-06 with part of the outer whorl as body
chamber; No. 18106 and 18110 from bed VII-20 are septate.
Horizon: Beds VII-06 to VII-20
Locality: Northeast of village Kantkote, Wagad,
Kachchh, India.
Description: Size moderate, whorl section compressed,
umbilicus wide, umbilical wall steep, umbilical shoulder
curved, laterals nearly flat, ventro-lateral shoulder rounded,
ventre broadly arched, ribs distinct, mostly biplicate with
common single intercalatries (5 to 7 per half whorl),
primaries from near the middle of the umbilical wall, almost
straight on laterals, secondaries from just below the ventro-
lateral shoulder, somewhat projected forward and
uninterrupted on ventre.
Comparison and Remarks: The present examples
strongly resemble the holotype of Ammonite biplex
bifurcatus Quenstedt (1847, p. 163, Pl. 12, Fig. 11) and
Ammonite biplex bifurcatus Quenstedt (1887, p. 931, Pl.
101, Figs.9-10) in their compressed whorl section, distinctly
bifurcate ribbing and size. Perisphinctes (Dichotomoceras)
bifurcatus (Quenstedt), Enay (1966, p.504, Pl.33, Figs.1-7)
and Perisphinctes (Dichotomoceras) bifurcatus (Quenstedt),
Enay and Gygi (2001, p. 458 , Pl. 1, Figs. 1-14, Pl. 2,
Figs.1-4), however, have distinctly more forward
secondaries on the venter. However, in view of extreme
fragmentary nature, the studied specimens are determined
as Dichotomoceras gr. bifurcatus (Quenst.)
Age: Stenocycloides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early
Late Oxfordian.
Dichotomoceras crassus Enay
(Plate 1, Figs.1a,b)
Synonymy
1966. Perisphinctes ( Dichotomoceras) crassus Enay,
p.507, Pl. 33, Fig. 8, Pl. 34, Fig. 5 with synonymy.
1979. Perisphinctes ( Dichotomoceras) crassus Enay,
Sapunov, p.86, Pl. 20, Figs. 6-9.
1989. Perisphinctes ( Dichotomoceras) crassus Enay,
Melendez, p.349, Pl. 61, Figs. 1, 5, 7.
2001. Perisphinctes ( Dichotomoceras) crassus Enay,
Enay and Gygi, p.86, Pl. 20, Figs. 6-9.
Material: Single specimen, fairly preserved, No. 18085
from bed V-26 , septate fragment.
Horizon: Beds V-26.
Locality: Northeast of village Kantkote, Wagad,
Kachchh, India.
Description: Size moderate, evolute, whorl section
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.74, OCT. 2009
 CHARACTERIZATION OF Dichotomoceras IN THE OXFORDIAN OF KACHCHH, GUJARAT 475

0 cm 1

0 cm 1

1a

0 cm 1
2b

2a
2a

0 cm 1
0 cm 1

4b
0 cm 2

4a
3
0 cm 1
0 cm 1

0 cm 1

5a 5b
1b
Plate 1. Figs. 1a,b: Dichotomoceras crassus Enay, 18085, (X 0.9), entirely septate, bed V-26, Stenocycloides Subzone, Bifurcatus
Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh, India. a. lateral view, b. ventral view. Figs. 2a,b: Dichotomoceras rotoides (Ronch.),
18044, (X 0.9), outer half whorl as body chamber, bed II-10 Rotoides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote,
Kachchh, India. a. lateral view, b. ventral view. Fig. 3: Perisphinctes cf. strumatus (Buck.), 18045, (X 0.4), bed II-10 Rotoides
Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh, India - lateral view. Figs.4a,b: Dichotomoceras rotoides (Ronch.),
18043, (X 1.0), entirely septate, bed II- 10, Rotoides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh, India.
a. lateral view, b. ventral view. Figs. 5a,b: Dichotomoceras rotoides (Ronch.), 18031, (X 0.7), outer half whorl as body chamber, bed
II-08, Rotoides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh, India. a. lateral view, b. ventral view.

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.74, OCT. 2009

476 JAI KRISHNA AND OTHERS

0 cm 1
0 cm 1
2b
1b
0 cm 1

1a

0 cm1

4a
0 cm 1

3a
0 cm 1

0 cm 1
0 cm 1

3b 4b 2a
Plate 2. Figs. 1a,b: Dichotomoceras wartae (Buckowski), No. 18018, (X 0.8), more than half of outer whorl as body chamber,
bed II-08, Rotoides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh, India. a. lateral view, b. ventral view.
Figs. 2a,b: Dichotomoceras wartae (Buckowski), 18042, (X 0.7), entirely septate fragment bed II-10, Rotoides Subzone, Bifurcatus
Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh, India. a. lateral view, b. ventral view. Figs. 3a,b : Dichotomoceras wartae (Buckowski),
18008, (X 0.7), entirely septate fragment, bed II-04, Rotoides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh,
India. a. lateral view, b. ventral view. Figs. 4a,b: Dichotomoceras gr. stenocycloides (Siem.), 18108, (X 0.6), less than half whorl as
body chamber, bed VII-20, Stenocycloides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh, India. a. lateral view,
b. ventral view.

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.74, OCT. 2009

 CHARACTERIZATION OF Dichotomoceras IN THE OXFORDIAN OF KACHCHH, GUJARAT 477

0 cm 1
0 cm 1
0 cm 1

1b 4b 1a

0 cm 1
2a

0 cm 1
0 cm 1
0 cm 1

3b 4a
3a
0 cm 1
0 cm 1
0 cm 1

2b 5a 5b
Plate 3. Figs. 1a,b: Dichotomoceras gr. bifurcatus (Quenst.), 18110, (X 0.9), entirely septate fragment, bed VII-20, Stenocycloides
Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh, India. a. lateral view, b. ventral view. Figs. 2a,b: Dichotomoceras
gr. stenocycloides (Siem.), 18109 , (X 0.9), entirely septate, bed VII-12, Stenocycloides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian,
Kantkote, Kachchh, India. a. lateral view, b. ventral view. Figs. 3a,b: Dichotomoceras gr. bifurcatus (Quenst.), 18107 (X 0.9), less than
quarter whorl as body chamber, bed VII-06, Stenocycloides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh, India.
a. lateral view, b. ventral view. Figs. 4a,b: Dichotomoceras gr. bifurcatus (Quenst.), 18106, (X 0.9), entirely septate fragment,
bed VII-20, Stenocycloides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh, India. a. lateral view, b. ventral view.
Figs. 5a,b : Dichotomoceras gr. stenocycloides (Siem.), 18105 , entirely septate, (X 0.9), bed VII-18, Stenocycloides Subzone,
Bifurcatus Zone, early Late Oxfordian, Kantkote, Kachchh, India. a. lateral view, b. ventral view.

JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.74, OCT. 2009

478 JAI KRISHNA AND OTHERS
depressed, umbilicus wide, umbilical wall steep, umbilical
shoulder rounded, laterals little convex, ventro-lateral
shoulder rounded, ventre broadly arched, ribs distinct,
somewhat dense, mostly biplicate with rare single
intercalation (1 on preserved whorl), primaries from near
the middle of the umbilical wall, almost straight on laterals,
secondaries from just below the ventro-lateral shoulder,
somewhat projected forward and uninterrupted on ventre.
Comparison and Remarks: The present example
strongly resemble the holotype and other examples described
and illustrated in Enay (1966) and Enay and Gygi (2001) in
rib density with 21 primaries on the last preserved half
whorl and also other morphological characters, particularly
the whorl section.
Age: Stenocycloides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone, early
Late Oxfordian.
STRATIGRAPHIC EVALUATION
The presence of Dichotomoceras rotoides (Ronch.) in
beds II-08 to II-10 and of Dichotomosphinctes wartae
(Buckowski) in beds II-02 to II-10 clearly evidences the
Rotoides Subzone of late Middle Oxfordian age. It may be
noted here that the precise stratigraphic position of this
species has been determined only recently by Gygi and
Persoz (1986), and subsequently followed by creation
of a distinct Rotoides Subzone younger to Schilli
Subzone but older to Stenocycloides Subzone by Cariou
et al. (1991). Earlier to such revised stratigraphic
positioning, Dichotomoceras rotoides was considered an
early Dichotomosphinctes by Arkell (1935-48), Collignon
(1959) and Callomon (1960). It was Enay (1966) who for
the first time pointed out the presence of Dichotomoceras
like rib density curves in the early whorls of this
species, however, he still described this species under
Dichotomosphinctes instead of Dichotomoceras. Not only
that, Enay in his species stratigraphic range chart also
placed his Dichotomosphinctes rotoides in the
Antecedens Subzone of Plicatilis Zone belonging to the early
part of the famous Birmensdor Beds of Europe. Enay’s
Dichotomosphinctes rotoides should be viewed with caution
for acceptance as true Dichotomoceras rotoides of Rotoides
Subzone since Enay’s specimens, according to him, came
from Antecedens Subzone.
The succeeding younger part of the stratigraphic column
has yielded Dichotomoceras gr. stenocycloides along
with relatively smaller Dichotomoceras crassus and
Dichotomoceras gr. bifurcatus between levels III-01 to VII-
20. Regarding the records of D. crassus and D. gr. bifurcatus
we agree with Enay that intermediate morphs in between
the two distinctly segregated clusters are absent. As
such, Stenocycloides Subzone of early Late Oxfordian
Bifurcatus Zone find definite characterization in the
proximal most exposed part of the Kachchh Basin at
Kantkote.
Gygi (2000) has given recently a revised zonal / subzonal
framework at the late Middle Oxfordian – early Late
Oxfordian interval. He has recognized a distinct ‘Schilli
Zone’ with two distinct subzones, Schilli Subzone and
Rotoides Subzone in that order, underlain by the classic
Transversarium Zone sensu Oppel. The ‘Schilli Zone’
according to Gygi (2000) is the first zone of the Late
Oxfordian older to Bifurcatus Zone. According to him
G. transversarium does not range into the overlying Schilli
Subzone, and there should be no reason whatsoever to
include the Schilli Subzone in the Transversarium Zone as
done by most of the other Oxfordian workers (e.g. Enay,
Cariou, Callomon, Melendez etc). While we may in principle
agree with Gygi about the possibility of a distinct Schilli
Zone above the Transversarium Zone, for the present we
follow Cariou and Hantzpergue (1997) until acceptance of
Gygi’s proposal by his fellow European workers.
CONCLUSION
The prime significance of the present research is (a) the
definite discovery of Dichotomoceras not only for the first
time from Kachchh but from the entire Asian and West
Pacific region along with complete development and
differentiation into subzones (Rotoides Subzone to
Stenocycloides Subzone) and (b) highlighting of the abiotic
and biotic contrast of the studied ca 55 m interval with the
underlying 10 m.
Acknowledgement: The authors express their
thankfulness to the Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu
University for its all round support. Jai Krishna and B.
Pandey additionally acknowledge the assistance received
from Department of Science and Technology, Government
of India.
JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.74, OCT. 2009
 CHARACTERIZATION OF Dichotomoceras IN THE OXFORDIAN OF KACHCHH, GUJARAT
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