The Richest Diversity and Highest Abundance of Freshwater Bivalve Fossils from the New Fossil Locality of the Early Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation at Roi Et Province, Northeastern Thailand

Sakboworn Tumpeesuwan; Mongkol Udchachon; Komsorn Lauprasert; Uthumporn Deesri; Suravech Suteethorn; Pradit Nuley; Pasakorn Bunchalee; Hathaithip Thassanapak; Benchawan Nahok; Chanidaporn Tumpeesuwan

doi:10.58837/tnh.24.1.261318

Authors

Sakboworn Tumpeesuwan Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, 44150, THAILAND; Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, 44150, THAILAND
Mongkol Udchachon Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, 44150, THAILAND
Komsorn Lauprasert Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, 44150, THAILAND
Uthumporn Deesri Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, 44150, THAILAND
Suravech Suteethorn Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, 44150, THAILAND; Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, 44150, THAILAND
Pradit Nuley Office of Mineral Resources Region 2, Department of Mineral Resources, Khon Kaen, THAILAND
Pasakorn Bunchalee Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, 44150, THAILAND; Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, 44150, THAILAND
Hathaithip Thassanapak Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, 44150, THAILAND
Benchawan Nahok Department of General Science, Faculty of Education, Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University, Mueang District, Chaiyaphum, THAILAND
Chanidaporn Tumpeesuwan Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, 44150, THAILAND

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58837/tnh.24.1.261318

Keywords:

Pseudohyria (Matsumotoina) somani, freshwater bivalve fossil assemblage, vertebrate fossil, crevasse splay, meandering river system

Abstract

A new fossil freshwater bivalves locality in the Sao Khua Formation was discovered at the top of a small hill named Phu Kum Khao in the Pho Chai District, Roi Et Province, northeastern Thailand. The fossils bed is a mud-nodule conglomeratic sandstone of the Sao Khua Formation and has proved to be both of high abundance and species diversity (6,637 specimens of nine species). The most abundant species is Pseudohyria (Matsumotoina) somanai Tumpeesuwan, Sato, and Nakhapadungrat, 2010, which is not only the dominant species of the Sao Khua Formation but also the index fossil representative of the Late Barremian age for the formation. The bivalves from this locality are preserved as both articulated and disarticulated shells. Associated vertebrate fossils are preserved as bone fragments and micro remains. According to the fossil assemblage and its taphonomy and orientation, lithology, and geometry, we interpret this fossil bed as having been deposited by a crevasse splay of a meandering river system.

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