Khari Nadi Formation

Khari Nadi Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early Miocene, Aquitanian-Burdigalian[1]
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TypeGeological formation
UnderliesManiyara Fort Formation
OverliesChassara Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
OtherClaystone
Location
Coordinates23°24′N 68°48′E / 23.4°N 68.8°E / 23.4; 68.8
Approximate paleocoordinates12°30′N 69°06′E / 12.5°N 69.1°E / 12.5; 69.1
RegionGujarat
CountryIndia
Type section
Named forKhari Nadi
Khari Nadi Formation is located in India
Khari Nadi Formation
Khari Nadi Formation (India)

The Khari Nadi Formation is a geological formation in western India that dates back to the Early Miocene epoch. The formation is well known for its sirenian diversity and a fossilized whale fall.

Lithology

The Khari Nadi Formation is preceded by Maniyara Fort Formation of Oligocene, which is mostly devoid of vertebrate fossils but has reports of Nummulites, Lepidocyclina, Clypeus, and Nannoplanktons, and succeed by Chassara Formation of Middle Miocene, which has reports of gastropods, bivalves, echinoids and bryozoans.[2]

The type locality of Khari Nadi Formation is only known from western region of Kutch at Khari River in Gujarat, India.[2]

The lithology typically vary by 3 parts, the Lower part has silty shale and thin beds of siltstone which are barren of mega and micro fossils and only have gypsum laminae which is parallel to bedding plane, Middle part is extensively burrowed silty shale and features various trace fossils like Skolithos, Diplocraterion, Arenicolites, Ophiomorpha, the Upper part consists of few impure limestone beds and is known for well preserved gastropods, oysters and barnacles.[2]

Paleobiota

Molluscs

Cephalopods

Cephalopods of the Khari Nadi Formation
Genus Species Location Materials Notes Image
Aturia[3] A. gujaratensis Aida PG/TNA1, a internal mould of the shell. A aturiid nautiloid.

Gastropods

Gastropods of the Khari Nadi Formation
Genus Species Location Materials Notes Image
Zaria[4] Z. angulata Khari River NHMW 2008z0256/0002, 10 specimens A turritellid gastropod.
Protoma[4] P. deshayesi Khari River NHMW 2008z0256/0001, 1 specimen A turritellid gastropod.
Turbinella[4] T. premekranica Khari River NHMW 2008z0256/0003, 3 specimens A turbinellid gastropod.
Conus[4] C. brevis Khari River NHMW 2008z0256/0004, 1 specimen A conid gastropod.
Architectonica[4] A. affinis Khari River NHMW 2008z0256/0005, 1 specimen A architectonicid gastropod.

Chondrichthyes

Selachiis

Selachiis of the Khari Nadi Formation
Genus Species Location Materials Notes Image
Hemipristris[5] H. serra Jangadia KF-17E, an isolated tooth A hemigaleid carcharhiniform.
Otodus[5] O. chubutensis Jangadia KF-17 A-B-C-D, several isolated teeth An otodontid lamniform, includes Megaselachus chubutensis.
Carcharhinus[5] C. sp. Jangadia KF-17 J-K, two isolated teeth A carcharhinid carcharhiniform.
Carcharodon[5] C. carcharias Jangadia KF-17 G, an incomplete tooth A lamnid lamniform.
Galeocerdo[5] G. cuvier Baadra KF-66, an isolated tooth A galeocerdonid carcharhiniform.
G. mayumbensis Jangadia KF-17 E, an isolated tooth A galeocerdonid carcharhiniform, includes Carcharodon bigelowi.

Batomorphs

Batomorphs of the Khari Nadi Formation
Genus Species Location Materials Notes Image
Myliobatis[5] M. sp. Jangadia KF-17 H-I, isolated teeth A myliobatid myliobatiform.
Rhinoptera[5] R. sp. Jangadia KF-17 L, isolated tooth A rhinopterid myliobatiform.
Pristis[5] P. sp. Jangadia KF-17 G, isolated tooth A pristid.

Actinopterygiis

Actinopterygiis of the Khari Nadi Formation
Genus Species Location Materials Notes Image
Latidae[5] indet. Jangadia KF-30, neurocranium A latid perciform.

Reptiles

Pseudosuchians

Pseudosuchians of the Khari Nadi Formation
Genus Species Location Materials Notes Image
Rhamphosuchus[5][6] R. cf. pachyrhynchus Samda KF-40, snout A large gavialoid, originally though to be an indeterminate tomistomine.

Tethytherians

Proboscideans

Proboscideans of the Khari Nadi Formation
Genus Species Location Materials Notes Image
Deinotherium[5] D. sp. Samda KF-27, upper M1 and M2. A deinotheriid proboscidean.
D. sindiense[7] Samda GSI A10, right m2 A deinotheriid proboscidean.
Gomphotheriidae[5] indet Pasuda KF-76, fragmentary molar enamels. A gomphotheriid proboscidean.

Sirenians

Sirenians of the Khari Nadi Formation
Genus Species Location Materials Notes Image
Kutchisiren K. cylindrica Kotada A dugongine dugongid.
Bharatisiren B. kachchhensis Aida A dugongine dugongid.
B. indica Matanomadh A dugongine dugongid.
Dominigia D. sodhae Nangia A dugongine dugongid.
Kharisiren K. cristata Kotada A dugongine dugongid.

Ungulates

Perissodactyls

Perissodactyls of the Khari Nadi Formation
Genus Species Location Materials Notes Image
Brachypotherium[5][7] B. sp. Jangadia, Pasuda KF-9 A-B, m3 and p2 as for Jangadia Specimen; 216/GSI/PAL/CR/07 A-B-C, right upper second molar, right upper last deciduous molar and left anterior premolar as for Pasuda specimen. A rhinocerotid.

Artiodactyls

Artiodactyls of the Khari Nadi Formation
Genus Species Location Materials Notes Image
Parabrachyodus[7] P. hyopotamoides Fategad GSI 18097, a partial snout with molar 2-3. An anthracotheriid.
Sivameryx[7] S. palaeindicus Pasuda 217/GSI/PAL/CR/07 A-B-C, left upper M1 & m2 and left upper pm4 A anthracotheriid .
Conohyus[7] C. cf. sindiensis Pasuda 218/GSI/PAL/CR/07, left lower pm4. A suid.
Libycochoerus[7] L. fategadensis Fategad GSI 18098, a fragmentary mandible with pm4 to me teeth. A suid
Giraffokeryx[7] G. punjabiensis Pasuda 219/GSI/PAL/CR/07 A-B-C, fragmentary mandibles with teeth. A giraffid.
Dorcatherium[7] D. naui Tapar 220/GSI/PAL/CR/07 A-B, fragmentary mandibles with teeth. A tragulid.
Cetacea[8] indet Rampar Dargah A whale fall, includes several ribs, Vertebrae and other fragments, discovered alongside several molluscs and echinoids. There are several Osedax holes on the vertebrae. A cetacean.

Carnivorans

Caniformes

Caniformes of the Khari Nadi Formation
Genus Species Location Materials Notes Image
Matanomictis[1] M. maniyarensis Matanomadh IITR-SB 5135, a partial mandible A mustelid.

References

  1. 1 2 Saha, A.; Verma, S. K.; Bajpai, S.; Roy, P.; Domning, D. P. (16 March 2026). "Miocene dugongid (Mammalia, Sirenia) diversity in the Indian Ocean, with description of a new genus and species from Kutch, Western India". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology e2634013. doi:10.1080/02724634.2026.2634013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Khari Nadi Formation". indplex.geolex.org. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
  3. ↑ Halder, K. (2012). "Cenozoic fossil nautiloids (Cephalopoda) from Kutch, western India". Palaeoworld 22(2):116-130.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 M. Harzhauser, M. Euter, W. E. Piller, B. Berning, A. Kroh and O. Mandic. 2009. Oligocene and Early Miocene gastropods from Kutch (NW India) document an early biogeographic switch from Western Tethys to Indo-Pacific. Palaeontologische Zeitschrift 83:333-372
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Patnaik, R.; Sharma, K. M.; Mohan, L.; Williams, B. A.; Kay, R. & Chatrath, P. (2014). "Additional Vertebrates remains from the Early Miocene of Kutch, Gujarat". Special Publication of the Paleontological Society of India, 335-351
  6. ↑ Courville, E.; Métais, G.; Antoine, P.-O.; Marivaux, L.; Jouve, S. (2025). "Giant longirostrine crocodylians from the Lower Miocene of Pakistan: new material and taxonomic review". Papers in Palaeontology. 11 (3). e70010.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bhandari, A; Mohabey, D. M.; Bajpai, S.; Tiwari, B. N. & Pickford, M. (2010). "Early Miocene mammals from central Kutch (Gujarat), Western India: Implications for geochronology, biogeography, eustacy and intercontinental dispersals". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen, 256(1):69-97.
  8. ↑ Goswami, P.; Das, S. & Panja, S. (2024). "Discovery of Miocene Whale Fall Fauna from India: Taphonomy and Palaeoecology of a Vertebrate-Invertebrate Assemblage". Historical Biology, 37(4): 1888-1901.
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