Skip to main content
Log in

Insect traces on early Permian plants of India

  • Published:
Paleontological Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The study of fossil leaves from the Glossopteris flora of the Lower Permian Gondwana sequence of the Barakar Formation of the Raniganj Coalfield, India, has revealed the presence of different types of insect traces. The structures are compatible with a variety of insect activities on fossil leaves. Nibbled and cuspate margins, trench marks, obliterated surfaces, blotch marks, and holes of various shape constitute feeding traces, whereas egg pouches along the midrib and irregularly distributed oviposition marks are traces of egglaying. Although fossil records of both insects and their activities in the Glossopteris flora of India remain scarce, the different types of insect traces identified in the present study demonstrate the existence of a diverse insect fauna during the Permian Period of India.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Béthoux, O., Galtier, J., Nel, A., et al., Earliest Evidence of Insect Endophytic Oviposition, Palaios, 2004, vol. 19, pp. 408–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grauvogel-Stamm, L. and Kelber, K.P., Plant-Insect Interactions and Coevolution during the Triassic in Western Europe, Paleontol. Lombardia, NS, 1996, vol. 5, pp. 5–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Handlirsch, A., Die Fossilien Insekten und Phylogenie der Rezenten Formen, Leipzig: W. Engelmen, 1906–1908, vol. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krassilov, V.A. and Rasnitsyn, A.P., Plant-Arthropod Interactions in the Early Angiosperm History: Evidence from the Cretaceous of Israel, Sofia-Moscow: Pensoft Publ. and Brill Acad. Publ., 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krassilov, V.A. and Shuklina, S., Arthropod Trace Diversity on Fossil Leaves from the Mid-Cretaceous of Negev, Israel, Alavesia, 2008, vol. 2, pp. 239–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Labandeira, C.C., The History of Associations between Plants and Animals, in Plant-Animal Interactions: An Evolutionary Approach, Herrena, C.M. and Pellmyr, O., Eds., London: Blackwell Sci., 2002, pp. 26–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Labandeira, C.C., The Fossil Record of Insect Extinction: New Approaches and Future Directions, Am. Entomol., 2005, vol. 51, pp. 14–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Labandeira, C.C., The Four Phases of Plant-Arthropod Associations in Deep Time, Geol. Acta, 2006, vol. 4, pp. 409–438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Labandeira, C.C. and Beall, B.S., Arthropod Terrestriality: Short Courses in Paleontology, Publ. Palentol. Soc. USA, 1990, no. 3, 214–256.

  • Labandeira, C.C. and Philips, T.L., Insect Fluid-Feeding on Upper Pennsylvanian Tree Ferns (Palaeodictyoptera, Marattiales) and the Early History of the Piercing and Sucking Functional Feeding Group, Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am., 1996, vol. 89, pp. 157–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Labandeira, C.C., Wilf, P., Johnson, K.R., et al., Guide to the Insect (and Other) Damage Types on Compressed Plant Fossils, Version 3.0, Washington, DC: Smithson. Inst., 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plumstead, E.P., The Influence of Plants and Environment on the Developing Animal Life of Karoo Times, S. Afr. J. Sci., 1963, vol. 59, pp. 147–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prevec, R., Labandeira, C.C., Neveling, J., et al., Portrait of a Gondwana Ecosystem: A New Late Permian Fossil Locality from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 2009, vol. 156, pp. 454–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, A.C., Stephenson, J., Chaloner, W.G., et al., Interaction and Coevolution of Plants and Arthropods during the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London, 1992, vol. 335, pp. 129–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, A.C. and Taylor, T.N., Plant/Animal Interactions during the Carboniferous, Bot. Rev., 1983, vol. 49, pp. 259–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, A.K., An Insect Wing from the Lower Gondwana of India, J. Paleontol., 1988a, vol. 62, pp. 338–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, A.K., Lower Barakar Flora and Insect/Plant Relationship, Palaeobotanist, 1988b, vol. 36, pp. 138–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, A.K., Plant Fossil Assemblages from the Barakar Formation of Raniganj Coalfield, India, Palaeobotanist, 1992, vol. 39, pp. 281–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, A.K., Evidence of Fungal Parasitism in the Glossopteris Flora of India, Comptes Rendu XII ICC-P Buenos Aires, 1993, vol. 2, pp. 141–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, A.K., Plant/Animal Relationship in Lower Gondwanas of India, Gondwana Nine, 1996, vol. 1, pp. 549–555.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, A.K., Fossil Records of Insect and Insect Related Plant Damage, Zoos Print, 1998, vol. 8, pp. 5–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, A.K., Fossil Evidence of Gall-Inducing Arthropod-Plant Interactions in the Indian Subcontinent, Orient. Insec., 2007, vol. 41, pp. 213–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, A.K. and Tewari, R., Possible Evidence of Bacterial Degradation in Glossopteris Flora of India, Palaeobotanist, 1994, vol. 42, pp. 174–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stubblefield, S.P. and Taylor, T.N., Tansely Review No. 12, Rec. Advan. Paleomycol., 1988, vol. 108, pp. 3–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Amerom, H.W.J., Phagophytichnus ekowskii nov. ichnogen. & ichnosp., eine Missbildung Infolge von Insketenfrass, aus dem spanischen Stephanien (Provinz Leon), Leidse Geol. Meded., 1966, vol. 38, pp. 181–184.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. K. Srivastava.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © A.K. Srivastava, D. Agnihotri, 2011, published in Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal, 2011, No. 2, pp. 78–84.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Srivastava, A.K., Agnihotri, D. Insect traces on early Permian plants of India. Paleontol. J. 45, 200–206 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030111020171

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030111020171

Keywords

Navigation