First docodont mammals of Laurasian affinity from India

Our present understanding of Mesozoic mammalian evolution is primarily base d on fossil remains from the Laurasian continents. In stark contrast to its well-documented nature in the northern hemisphere, the fossil record is in complete and poorly understood in the southern hemisphere. This is particul arly true for the order Docodonta. Until now, docodont mammals have been re corded from the Middle and Upper Jurassic deposits of North America and Eur ope only. The presence of docodont mammals of Laurasian affinity (Haldanodo n grade) in the Lower/Middle Jurassic Kota Formation of peninsular India is reported here. The new finds, represented by an isolated upper premolar an d a lower molar, are the first documented evidences of typical Euramerican docodont mammals from the former Gondwanaland. Contrary to the long-held vi ew of Laurasian origin and distribution, the new finds from India suggest P angaean distribution for docodont mammals.