Neogene Vertebrate Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Nepal

Abstract

ABSTRACT

For the past 150 years, the Siwalik Group, a Miocene through Pleistocene molasse along the flank of the Himalaya has been studied intensively stratigraphically and paleontologically in both India and Pakistan. This work recently has been extended into Nepal, where a presumably complete Siwalik section is present, and a modest number of vertebrate fossils have been found. All but one of Nepalese Siwalik vertebrates hare been collected along the southern edge of the Dang Valley in western Nepal. Two assemblages are now known. The older is of presumed Miocene age and likely equivalent to the fauna of the Chinji Formation in Pakistan. The other is of late Pliocene to early Pleistocene age and similar to the Indian Pinjor fauna.

In addition, Plio-Pleistocene vertebrates have been reported from fluvial intermontane deposits in the Kathmandu Valley.

As studies of radiometric dating, magnetostratigraphy, physical stratigraphy and fossil distributions are extended into Nepal, the place of the Nepalese Siwaliks and basin deposits will become increasingly clear.