Additional Fossil Batoids (Skates and Rays) from the Miocene Deposits of Baripada Beds, Mayurbhanj District, Orissa, India

Abstract

The Miocene Baripada Beds of Orissa are well known for their rich assemblages of sharks and batoids. The Batoid assemblages of Baripada Beds are represented by nine genera comprising of Myliobatis, Aetobatus, Rhinoptera, Dasyatis, Raja, Rhinobatus, Rhyncobatus, Pristis and Gymnura. Our record of Rhyncobatus sp. is significant as it is the first such report from Indian subcontinent. Presence of Gymnura sp. is also being described for the first time from the eastern coast of India. We also describe additional specimens and skeletal remains that were not discovered earlier. Our findings, combined with earlier finds of crocodilian coprolite, fish fauna, gastropods, bivalves, pelecypods, and foraminifers, suggests that the Baripada Beds were deposited in a shore environment, probably in the shallower part of the inner neretic, tropical to subtropical environment, well connected to the open seas.