Permian megaspores from Godavari Graben, India: Present Status

Abstract

A survey of megaspore studies from Permian of Ramagundam, Chelpur, Mailaram, Rampuram, Gundala and Kachinapalli areas of Godavari Graben, Andhra Pradesh indicates their qualitative and quantitative richness during the Late Permian. Out of seventy nine megaspore taxa recorded from Indian Lower Gondwana, twenty three are represented in this graben. Presence of Biharisporites sparsus in the Raniganj Formation of Kachinapalli area is particularly significant because it was previously recorded from Triassic and thus indicates an early appearance of Triassic taxon in Godavari Graben in Late Permian. Additionally, the survey also records a higher (eighteen) number of megaspore taxa in the Raniganj Formation. A distinct evolutionary trend is observed since exosporia of megaspores from the Barakar Formation are simple and those of the Raniganj Formation are complex and more diversified.