Discovery of partial skull and dentary of Titanosauria (Sauropod Dinosaur) from the late Cretaceous Pab Formation of Vitakri area, Barkhan District, Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

Partial Skull and dentary of Marisaurus Titanosauria have been discovered for the first time in Pakistan from the Late Cretaceous Pab Formation of Vitakri area, Barkhan District, Balochistan, Pakistan. Discovered cranial parts are found mainly as three masses on same locality and also nearby Œrial elements such as some cervical, dorsal and caudal vertebrae, and also supported by some appendicular elements. The first mass consists of anterior skull such as articulated upper and lower jaws, articulated vomer and associated piece consists of articulated left quadrate, partial quadratojugal and possibly lowermost portion of squamosal. The second mass consists of central cranial parts such as preserved articulated posterior vomer, palatine, pterygoid, ectopterygoid and possibly parasphenoid. The posterior Width (possible) of vomer is 4.5 cm and maximum thickness is 6mm, Palatine and ectopterygoid seem to be fused. The maximum horizontal transverse Width from right to left tip of palatine and ectopterygoid is about 9 cm. It seems to be slightly compressing. The third mass consists of braincase which has been described as separate. The majority of second mass and third mass (braincase) is covered by

Recently five new genus and species of Titanosauria (Titanosaurids/Pakisaurids, and Saltasaurids) are erected on the basis of morphology of caudal vertebrae but the assignment ofpartial skull and dentary may belong to a marisaurus jeffi (Saltasaurids Titanosauria), based on nearby findings of some cervical, dorsal and caudal vertebrae and some appendicular elements. Titanosaurids were by far the predominant sauropods in the Late Cretaceous, but their relationship to other families remain an enigma, in part because no good skulls are known. This discovery will be useful for generic-level comparisons and phylogenetic resolution. In this regard, the Indo Pakistan Will enter in hypothesis of Gondwanan dinosaur biogeography in future. These new discoveries from Vitakri and its vicinity have proved a well-developed Virakri Cretaceous Park for terrestrial ecosystem.