Nothopegia Leaves
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: DD News
Context: Scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences unearthed 24-million-year-old fossilized Nothopegia leaves in Assam’s Makum Coalfield.
• This is the oldest known fossil record of the genus, revealing ancient climate patterns and biodiversity shifts.
About Nothopegia Leaves:
• What is Nothopegia? A genus of flowering plants belonging to the Anacardiaceae family (same as mango). It includes several tropical tree species known for their ecological and medicinal importance.
• A genus of flowering plants belonging to the Anacardiaceae family (same as mango).
• It includes several tropical tree species known for their ecological and medicinal importance.
• Present Habitat: Currently found only in the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot in peninsular India.
• Fossil Discovery: Fossil leaves of Nothopegia were discovered in Assam’s Makum Coalfield, dating back to the late Oligocene epoch (24–23 million years ago).
• Key Features: Broad, reticulate-veined leaves. Adapted to warm, humid tropical climates. Fossils resemble modern Western Ghats species, indicating a past distribution in Northeast India.
• Broad, reticulate-veined leaves.
• Adapted to warm, humid tropical climates.
• Fossils resemble modern Western Ghats species, indicating a past distribution in Northeast India.
• Reason for Local Extinction in Northeast: Tectonic shifts and Himalayan uplift drastically altered regional climate. Changes in rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns made the Northeast inhospitable. Nothopegia migrated southward, surviving in the climatically stable Western Ghats.
• Tectonic shifts and Himalayan uplift drastically altered regional climate.
• Changes in rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns made the Northeast inhospitable.
• Nothopegia migrated southward, surviving in the climatically stable Western Ghats.
About Makum Coalfield:
• Location: Located in Tinsukia district, Assam, within the Dibrugarh–Tinsukia coal belt.
• Features: Rich in Tertiary-period fossil records and peat-based coal deposits. A valuable site for paleobotanical and geological research. Offers insights into climatic transitions and ancient flora of India.
• Rich in Tertiary-period fossil records and peat-based coal deposits.
• A valuable site for paleobotanical and geological research.
• Offers insights into climatic transitions and ancient flora of India.