the paleobiota of the yerrapalli formation is similar to that of the overlying maleri formation, which also preserves fossils of temnospondyls and archosauromorphs. the main difference between the yerrapalli and the maleri faunae is the presence of dicynodonts in the former. the discovery of dicynodont fossils in the pranhita-godavari basin in 1964 was one of the earliest indications that the yerrapalli formation represented a distinct paleofauna. before this discovery, yerrapalli strata were grouped within the maleri formation. the dicynodonts of the yerrapalli formation are similar to those of the ntavere formation in zambia, which also dates back to the anisian. during the middle triassic, what is now india and southern africa formed one continuous landmass as part of the supercontinent gondwana.