Geological History of Lemuria

Lemuria is composed of two former landmasses: Maldivia and Marama. They contribute both to its unique shape as well as the diverse flora and fauna seen in the continent.

Both landmasses began in the KT event, as a result of the Deccan Traps. Maldivia fromed from western fragments, while Marama resulted from eastern fragments that assimilated earlier Mesozoic islands. During this period extensive volcanism, plus the impact of the Yucatan asteroid, would have made neither particularly appealing places. However, refugia remained in both as did in India and Madagascar, allowing unique fauna and flora to make it across the boundary.

The Paleogene see an expansion of both islands. Marama in particular reached easterwards, assimilating more Mesozoic fragments and receiving fauna interchanges from Asia (likely by island hopping). Marama meanwhile became a sort of ecological corridor between the now seperated India and Madagascar.

Maldivia boasted a fauna dominated by dryolestoids, gondwanatheres, lemurs and caecilians, while Marama boasted lagomorphs, adapids, sphenodonts and flightless pigeons. Maldivia had a flora similar to that of Madagascar, while Marama had ancient groups like gingkos and seed ferns.

By the Miocene, parts of Marama crumbed much like Zealandia, and Maldivia began expanding both east and westwards. By now, faunal and floral exchanges between both landmasses were common, particularly among flying and swimming taxa.

It was only in the Pliocene that full connection was made. On the south, branches of islands connected Marama to Maldivia, while in the north subduction created both mountains and the beginnings of an island sea, that would turn into the Great Lakes complex.

By now, most groups were found in both landmasses, but to this day there remains a degree of endemism in western and eastern Lemuria. Meanwhile, Asia arrivals like elephants, hippos, peafowl and possibly hominids successfully colonised the continent, larger than ever before.