Fig 1.
Detailed map of the Siwalik rocks of the study area around Churanthi River, showing the bedding plane orientations and fossil locality.
The detailed sedimentological log (Fig 2A) was measured along the red line.
Fig 2.
A. Detailed sedimentological log of the Siwalik rocks exposed along the southern part of Churanthi River; B. Pollen diagram showing the percentages of recovered palynotaxa from Churanthi River section of Darjeeling foothills, West Bengal, India.
Table 1.
Stratigraphy of the Siwalik succession of Darjeeling foothills modified after Acharyya [36].
Fig 3.
Trace fossils and sedimentary structures from Churanthi River section.
A. Bioturbated ripple laminated silt-claystone. (Planolites marked by black arrows and Skolithos marked by red arrows). B. Palaeophycus; C. Low-angled cross stratifications and plane parallel strata; D. Rosselia, sectional view: funnel shaped burrow, occurring in very fine grained sandstone (F5), 318 m north of measured section; E. Rosselia, bedding plane view: (Note the concentric rings around sandy core).
Fig 4.
Percentage of palynotaxa in Middle Siwalik sediments of Churanthi River section of Darjeeling foothills.
Fig 5.
Photomicrographs of angiosperm pollen grains recovered from the Siwalik succession: A. cf. Lithocarpus sp.B, D, K. Rhoipites nitidus. C. Zonocostites sp. E. cf. Castanopsis sp. F. cf. Dalbergia sp.G. cf. Grewia obtusifolia.H. Graminidites sp.I, J. Tiliaepollenites sp. L. Quercoidites cf. Quercus.M. Crotonipollis sp.N. Juglanspollenites sp.O. Lanagiopollis sp.P, R, T. Myrtaceaedites sp. Q. Engelhardtioipollenites sp. S. Triporopollenites sp. U. cf. Rutaceae. V. Favitricolporites sp. W. cf. Zanthoxylum sp. X.Alnipollenites sp. Y.Polygalaceaedites sp. Z.Araliaceoipollenites reticulatus.A1. Unidentified. B1. Meliapollis sp.C1. Malvacearumpollis sp.D1. Liliacidites ellipticus. E1.Cupuliferoidaepollenites sp.F1. cf. Aristolochia sp.G1.Unidentified. H1. Nymphaeacidites sp.I1. Ilexpollenites sp.J1. Betulaepollenites microexcelsus. K1. Clavaperiporites clavatus. L1. Heliospermopsis sp.M1. Heliospermopsis siwalikii.N1. Neocouperipollis sp.
Fig 6.
Photomicrographs of pteridophytic spores, gymnosperm and angiosperm pollen grains recovered from the Siwalik succession: A.Polypodiisporites sp. B. Laevigatosporites gracilis. C. Polypodiisporites repandus. D. Laevigatosporites sp. E. Unidentified. F. Alsophilidites sp. G, O. Pteridacidites sp. H, I. Cyathidites sp. J. Cyathidites australis. K. Dictyophyllidites laevigatus. L. Deltoidospora sp. M. Abietineaepollenites sp. N. Dicolpopollis sp. P. Arecipites indicus. Q. Palaeosantalaceaepites sp. R. Liliacidites microreticulatus. S, U, V.Palmaepollenites sp. T. Araliaceoipollenites sp. W. Palmaedites naviculus.
Fig 7.
Photomicrographs of fungal spores recovered from the Siwalik succession:A, B, F. Hypoxylonites sp.C, G. Inapertisporites elongates. D, J, K, L, O, T. Inapertisporites sp.E. Inapertisporites ovalis.H. Inapertisporites solidus. I. Inapertisporites kedvesii.M, N. Inapertisporites nodulus.P. Monoporisporites sp. Q, W, X. Pluricellaesporites sp. R. Dyadosporites dyadosporus.S. Dyadosporites sp.U. Multicellaesporites ellipticus. V. Dyadosporites elsikii. Y, Z. Microsporonites sp.A1. Mediaverrunites sp.B1, C1. Unidentified.
Fig 8.
Photomicrographs of reworked palynotaxa of Permian age recovered from the Siwalik succession:A. Lophotriletes sp. B. Marsupipollenites sp. C, F, I, K, L. Cuneatipollenites sp. D. Scheuringipollenites sp. E. Parasaccites sp. G, R. Striatites sp. H, N, Q, T, U. Striatopodocarpites sp. J. Circumstriatites sp. M. Crescentipollenites sp. O. Rhizomaspora sp. P. Unidentified. S. Faunipollenites sp.
Table 2.
Ecological analysis of the recovered palynofossils.