Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Upper Dharmaram Formation

The Upper Dharmaram Formation is an Early Jurassic geologic formation found in Telangana, India. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.

Last revised
Jul 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
375 w
Citations
8
Source
Upper Dharmaram Formation
Stratigraphic range: HettangianSinemurian
~
TypeGeological formation
UnderliesKota Formation
OverliesLower Dharmaram Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, mudstone
Location
Coordinates19°18′N 79°30′E / 19.3°N 79.5°E / 19.3; 79.5
Approximate paleocoordinates28°12′S 34°06′E / 28.2°S 34.1°E / -28.2; 34.1
RegionTelangana
CountryIndia
ExtentPranhita–Godavari Basin
Upper Dharmaram Formation (India)

The Upper Dharmaram Formation is an Early Jurassic geologic formation found in Telangana, India. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.

Age

The Upper Dharmaram Formation overlies the Lower Dharmaram Formation, which dates to the Late Triassic, and conformably underlies the Kota Formation, the age of which is uncertain. Typical Triassic fauna, such as phytosaurs and aetosaurs, are absent from the Upper Dharmaram Formation, suggesting that it is Jurassic in age and that the boundary between the Lower and Upper Dharmaram Formation may correspond to the Triassic-Jurassic boundary.1 A Sinemurian age has been suggested based on faunal similarities to the Upper Elliot and Clarens Formations of southern Africa, the Kayenta Formation of North America, and the Lower Lufeng Formation of China.2 A Hettangian age has also been suggested.3

Fossil organisms

Non-dinosaurian reptiles

Crocodylomorphs
Taxon Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
aff. Dibothrosuchus2 A sphenosuchian

Dinosaurs

Theropods
Taxon Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
aff. Dilophosaurus2 "isolated teeth and limb fragments" A large neotheropod similar to Dilophosaurus
Sauropodomorphs
Taxon Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Lamplughsaura dharmaramensis Partial skeletons of four individuals4 Possible basal Sauropod.
Lamplughsaura source ↗

Pradhania gracilis

Partial skeleton including a few skull bones, three vertebrae, and partial manus5 A non-sauropod sauropodomorph, possibly a massospondylid.
Sauropodomorpha indet. Incomplete femur A probable third sauropodomorph taxon, distinct from both Lamplughsaura and Pradhania6
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Kutty et al. 2007, p. 1218.
  2. Kutty et al. 2007, p. 1219.
  3. Chatterjee 2020, p. 194.
  4. Kutty et al. 2007, p. 1220.
  5. Kutty et al. 2007, p. 1232.
  6. Kutty et al. 2007, p. 1233.

Works cited