Evidence of intense naticid drilling predation occurs on turritelline prey from a turritelline-dominated assemblage (TDA) which lies below the K-T boundary sections in Rajahmundry, India. Previously, it was believed that drilling frequency (DF) on turritelline taxa was low during the Cretaceous. Data from the study area indicates that the Cenozoic level of predation on turritelline taxa already occurred by the Late Cretaceous in the study area. The paleobiogeography of naticid predation is extended from the western world to India, which was located in the southern hemisphere during the Cretaceous. In addition to the high drilling frequency, the Indian fossil record shows that many aspects of naticid behavior; for example, size and site stereotypy, which are characteristic features of Cenozoic predators, were also established by the Late Cretaceous. These data support previous views that the Mesozoic Marine Revolution had minimal influence on morphological change in Late Cretaceous turritelline gastropods and that turritelline gastropods may have developed behavioral and/or physiological antipredatory adaptations. TDAs in general may indicate tremendous fecundity that may act as a buffer against high juvenile mortality due to predation.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 October 2013
INTENSE NATICID DRILLING PREDATION ON TURRITELLINE GASTROPODS FROM BELOW THE K-T BOUNDARY AT RAJAHMUNDRY, INDIA
SUMANTA MALLICK,
SUBHENDU BARDHAN,
SHUBHABRATA PAUL,
SUBHAM MUKHERJEE,
SHILADRI S. DAS
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
PALAIOS
Vol. 28 • No. 10
October 2013
Vol. 28 • No. 10
October 2013