Coralline Algae from the Late Pleistocene Miliolite Formation of Kachchh, Western India

Abstract

Coralline algae of the Late Pleistocene Miliolite Formation of
Kachchh region, Gujarat, western India are studied in terms of
taxonomy and their paleoenvironmental implications. The
Quaternary bio-clastic sediments belonging to the Late Pleistocene
Miliolite Formation are well exposed in Kachchh, western India
and these sediments consist of sandy limestones and calcareous
sandstones. The present paper deals with the study of coralline
algae from the sediments of the Late Pleistocene Miliolite
Formation. Twenty two species of coralline algae are being recorded
for the first time from these sediments. Out of twenty two species,
eight belong to non-geniculate coralline algae and fourteen belong
to geniculate coralline algae. The geniculate coralline algal species
are: Lithophyllum incrustans Philippi, Lithophyllum sp.1,
Lithopyllum sp.2, Lithoporella melobesioides Foslie, Lithothamnion
sp.1, Lithothamnion sp.2, Lithothamnion sp.3 and Lithothamnion
sp.4 and geniculate coralline algal species are: Amphiroa
anchiverricosa Johnson and Ferris, A. fortis Johnson , A. rigida
Lamouroux; Arthrocardia cretacica Raineri, A. indica Kundal and
Humane, A. konitaensis Ishijima; Calliarthron antiquum Johnson;
Corallina grandis Rao, C. prisca Johnson, C. typica Ishijima; Jania
guamensis Johnson, J. mengaudi Lemoine, J. sripadaraoi Kundal
and Humane; J. vetus Johnson. The present coralline algal
assemblage suggests that the sediments containing algae from the
Miliolite Formation were deposited in the shallow water marine/
beach environment.