Himalayan Geology, Vol. 43 (2), 2022, pp. 496-504, Printed in India

Elephas cf. E. hysudricus (Elephantidae, Mammalia) from Late Pliocene -Early Pleistocene Bentonitised Tuff Band of the Nagrota Formation, Samba District of Jammu and Kashmir, India: their Age and Distribution

SOM NATH KUNDAL

Palaeontology Laboratory, Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Jammu-180006, India

Email: snkundal123@yahoo.com

Abstract: This paper describes a molar of Elephas found within a 2.5 feet thick bentonitized tuff band/ volcanic ash layer exposed at Karju nala section, which is one kilometre west of Dora village in the Nagrota Formation, Upper Siwalik Subgroup of Samba District, Jammu and Kashmir, India. This Karju nalla section is an extension of the Badakheter and Nagrota sections’ geochronologically dated (2.58Ma) bentonitized tuff band. The recovered specimen is recognised as Elephas cf. E. hysudricus based on molar morphological parameters. A brief account on age and distribution of the E. hysudricus is also discussed in present paper.

Keywords: Elephas cf. E. hysudricus, Bentonitized tuff band, Pinjor Formation, Upper Siwalik, Samba District, Jammu and Kashmir, India.