Wilson Paper10

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Wilson Paper10 Gond. Geol. Magz., Spl. V. 8, April, 2005. pp. 101-109 A Sauropod Braincase from the Pab Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) of Balochistan, Pakistan Jeffrey A. Wilson12, M. Sadiq Malkani , and Philip D. Gingerich1 Abstract Pakistan during that interval. However, the Mesozoic and Cenozoic vertebrate fossils of Indo-Pakistan are Recent geological and paleontological exploration best known from Permian to Lower Jurassic sediments in the Pab Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of of India predating the transition (Jain, 1980; Balochistan Province has uncovered new terrestrial Bandyopadhyay and Sengupta, 1999; Ray and vertebrate remains. Together with Cretaceous Bandyopadhyay, 2003) and Eocene to Miocene vertebrates from India, the Pab vertebrates provide information about the paleobiogeographic history of sediments of India and Pakistan postdating the transition Indo-Pakistan during its northward migration towards (e.g., Gingerich and Wells, 1983; Barry et al., 1995; Asia. Vertebrate remains collected from several Gingerich et al., 2001; Verma et al., 2002). localities in the Pab Formation include numerous, Until recently, Mesozoic transitional faunas were isolated postcranial bones attributable to titanosaur recorded only from uppermost Cretaceous sediments of sauropods and a well-preserved sauropod braincase that central and western India (Fig. 1), which produce is described here. numerous but often disarticulated remains (e.g., Rana, The Pab braincase is referable to Eusauropoda, but 1990; Sahni and Bajpai, 1991; Prasad and Rage, 1991, it does not preserve characteristics diagnostic of lower- 1995; Loyal et al., 1996; Prasad and de Broin, 2002; level sauropod clades. The Pab braincase is relatively Rana and Wilson, 2003). Few Upper Cretaceous Indian small and diagnosed by a prominent supraoccipital vertebrates are known from material whose association wedge, pronounced proatlantal facets, and a ventrally is documented. These include the titanosaur sauropod deflected occipital condyle that forms a 120° angle with Isisaurus colberti (Jain and Bandyopadhyay, 1997), the the skull roof. Sauropod braincase material collected abelisaurid theropod Rajasaurus narmadensis (Wilson from Lameta Formation localities in India (Bara Simla, et al., 2003), and an unnamed snake (Mohabey, 1987). Dongargaon) closely resembles the Pab braincase in Recently discovered vertebrate remains from the size and general morphology and shares one or more of Upper Cretaceous Pab Formation of Balochistan, its diagnostic features. The Indian and Pakistani Pakistan (Fig. 1) offer a second opportunity to record braincases likely represent the same genus or species, late Mesozoic transitional faunas of Indo-Pakistan which was distributed across Indo-Pakistan during the (Malkani and Anwar, 2000; Malkani et al., 2001). Pab Cretaceous. Further exploration in both countries will vertebrate fossils include the only diagnostic better constrain the distribution of these and other crocodylomorph from the Mesozoic of Indo-Pakistan vertebrate fossils, providing a clearer picture of the (Pabwehshi; Wilson et al., 2001) as well as numerous, Cretaceous vertebrate fauna of Indo-Pakistan. isolated sauropod elements that include a well-preserved braincase (Malkani et al., 2001). The Pab sauropod Introduction braincase is described here and compared to sauropod Upper Mesozoic and Lower Cenozoic sediments of braincases collected from India. Several derived Indo-Pakistan record its geographical transition from an similarities suggest that the Pab braincase is very similar early connection to greater Gondwana, through a to remains collected from central India. Other sauropod northern drift across the equator, to a later connection to elements from the Pab Formation share autapomorphic Asia. All competing reconstructions of this geogra- features with Indian material, suggesting paleobiogeo- phical transition posit major changes in latitude and graphic continuity across Indo-Pakistan. land connections that likely had a major impact on the terrestrial vertebrate lineages that evolved in Indo- Institutional Abbrevations 1 ISI — Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Museum of Paleontology and Department of Geological Sciences, GSI — Geological Survey of India, Kolkata University of Michigan, 1109 Geddes Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan- 48109-1079, U.S.A. GSP — Geological Survey of Pakistan, Quetta UMMP — University of Michigan Museum of 2Geological Survey of Pakistan, P.O. Box 15, Sariab Road, Quetta, Pakistan. Paleontology, Ann Arbor. 102 Jeffrey A. Wilson and Others 500 km Fig.-1. Map showing the location of Upper Cretaceous fossil-bearing outcrops (gray boxes) in India (Lameta Formation) and Pakistan (Pab Formation). Capital cities (Islamabad, Delhi) and location of headquarters of the Geological Survey of Pakistan (Quetta) and Geological Survey of India (Kolkata) are shown. Systematic Paleontology (Nagappa, 1959; Jones et al., 1960; Kazmi and Jan, 1997; Sultan, 1997). DINOSAURIA Owen 1842 The Pab Formation is overlain unconformably by the SAUROPODA Marsh 1877 Paleocene Khadro Formation and is exposed, with the EUSAUROPODA Upchurch 1995 Paleocene Rakhi Gaj and Dungan Formations, in a Figure 2 series of roughly east-west trending en echelon folds Referred specimen : GSP-UM 7000, an isolated near Vitakri. These tectonic structures are thought to braincase that includes elements of the skull roof have been produced by the oblique collision of the Indo- (frontal, parietal) and basicranium (supraoccipital, Pakistan Plate and the Afghan block (Kazmi and Jan, exoccipital-opisthotic, basioccipital, basisphenoid, 1997). The Pab Formation forms the axis of the three prootic, laterosphenoid, orbitosphenoid). A cast of the main anticlines in the region: the Vitakri, Andari- specimen is housed in the University of Michigan Dhaola, Siah Koh anticlines. Thus far 18 vertebrate Museum of Paleontology (UMMP 11303). localities have been sampled in the Vitakri and the Type locality : Vitakri Locality 16. Part of a 15-20 km Andari-Dhaola anticlines. No sample has been exposure of Pab Formation in the Dhaola range, near collected in situ at any of these localities, so the exact the village of Vitakri in eastern Balochistan Province, fossil-bearing horizon is not yet known. Pakistan. Description : The braincase is well preserved but lacks Formation, age, and distribution : The Pab Formation the distal ends of the paroccipital processes, basal is exposed in two widely separated areas of eastern tubera, and basipterygoid processes, as well as the Balochistan: the Pab and Kirthar ranges bordering Sind anterior portions of the orbitosphenoids and latero- in the south and the Sulaiman Range bordering Punjab sphenoids. A portion of the skull roof is preserved that in the north (Fig. 1). In the western part of the includes the parietals internal to the supratemporal Sulaiman Province, the formation is marginal marine to openings and the frontals internal to the supratemporal fluvial (Sultan, 1997). The age is considered to be and orbital margins and posterior of the nasal contacts. latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) based on stratigraphic The Pab braincase is relatively small (Table-1) but position within a sequence of dated formations sutures are tightly fused or indistingui- shable, which Sauropod Braincase from Pab Formation 103 Fig-2. Stereopairs of the Pab sauropod braincase (GSP-UM 7000) in right lateral (A), dorsal (B), and posterior (C) views. Abbreviations: bo, basioccipital; bs, basisphenoid; bt, basal tubera; eo, exoccipital-opisthotic; f, frontal; fm, foramen magnum; ls, laterosphenoid; os, orbitosphenoid; p, parietal; pa f, proatlantal facet; pr, prootic; so, supraoccipital; st fo, supratemporal fossa. Roman numerals refer to cranial nerve openings. suggests that GSP-UM 7000 represents a mature their contact. As in other sauropods, the frontal-parietal individual. contact is positioned near the contact of the laterosphe- The parietal is a paired midline element that noid and prootic, and it coincides with a diminution of contacts the frontal anteriorly and has ventral contacts skull roof thickness that can be observed in lateral view. with the supraoccipital, exoccipital-opisthotic, prootic, The supratemporal fenestrae are not preserved, but a and laterosphenoid bones. The parietal is exposed on shallow depression along the frontal-parietal suture, the dorsal and posterior surfaces of the skull and most pronounced on the right side, may represent part of typically participates in the margin of the supratemporal the fossa surrounding it (Fig. 2B). The posterior margin fenestra, which is not preserved in this specimen (Fig. 2 of the skull is marked by low, arcuate ridges formed by B, C). The midline suture of the parietal is partially the parietal on either side of the supraoccipital. The fused, but traces of it can be discerned. The parietal and parietal is well exposed in posterior view, where it frontal are likewise tightly sutured, but a roughened line wraps over the supraoccipital wedge and extends of bone traversing the dorsal skull probably represents laterally to overlay the exoccipital-opisthotic. 104 Jeffrey A. Wilson and Others Table-1 : Principal dimensions of the Pab braincase (GSP- exoccipital-opisthotic or between the two, but this UM 7000) in millimeters. requires confirmation. The occipital condyle is strongly deflected ventrally and forms an angle of approximately Parietals, preserved transverse width 95 120 degrees with the skull roof. This deflection is not Parietals, anteroposterior
Recommended publications
  • Eocene to Miocene Composite Total Petroleum System, Irrawaddy-Andaman and North Burma Geologic Provinces, Myanmar
    Eocene to Miocene Composite Total Petroleum System, Irrawaddy-Andaman and North Burma Geologic Provinces, Myanmar By C.J. Wandrey Petroleum Systems and Related Geologic Studies in Region 8, South Asia Edited by Craig J. Wandrey U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2208–E U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2006 Posted online February 2006 Version 1.0 This publication is only available online at http://www.usgs.gov/bul/2208/E/ For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Wandrey, C.J., 2006, Eocene to Miocene Composite Total Petroleum System, Irrawaddy-Andaman and North Burma Geologic Provinces, Myanmar, Chapter E in Wandrey, C.J., ed., Petroleum systems and related geologic studies in Region 8, South Asia: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2208-E, 26 p. iii Foreword This report describing the petroleum resources within a total petroleum system in Myan- mar was prepared as part of the World Energy Assessment Project of the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • A Basal Lithostrotian Titanosaur (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) with a Complete Skull: Implications for the Evolution and Paleobiology of Titanosauria
    RESEARCH ARTICLE A Basal Lithostrotian Titanosaur (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) with a Complete Skull: Implications for the Evolution and Paleobiology of Titanosauria Rubén D. F. Martínez1*, Matthew C. Lamanna2, Fernando E. Novas3, Ryan C. Ridgely4, Gabriel A. Casal1, Javier E. Martínez5, Javier R. Vita6, Lawrence M. Witmer4 1 Laboratorio de Paleovertebrados, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina, 2 Section of Vertebrate Paleontology, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America, 3 Laboratorio de Anatomía Comparada y Evolución de los Vertebrados, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 4 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States of America, 5 Hospital Regional de Comodoro Rivadavia, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina, 6 Resonancia Magnética Borelli, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina * [email protected] OPEN ACCESS Citation: Martínez RDF, Lamanna MC, Novas FE, Ridgely RC, Casal GA, Martínez JE, et al. (2016) A Basal Lithostrotian Titanosaur (Dinosauria: Abstract Sauropoda) with a Complete Skull: Implications for the Evolution and Paleobiology of Titanosauria. PLoS We describe Sarmientosaurus musacchioi gen. et sp. nov., a titanosaurian sauropod dino- ONE 11(4): e0151661. doi:10.1371/journal. saur from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian—Turonian) Lower Member of the Bajo Bar- pone.0151661 real Formation of southern Chubut Province in
    [Show full text]
  • A New Giant Basal Titanosaur Sauropod in the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian) of the Neuquen Basin, Argentina
    Cretaceous Research 100 (2019) 61e81 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Cretaceous Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/CretRes A new giant basal titanosaur sauropod in the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian) of the Neuquen Basin, Argentina * Leonardo S. Filippi a, , Leonardo Salgado b, c, Alberto C. Garrido d, e a Museo Municipal Argentino Urquiza, Jujuy y Chaco s/n, 8319 Rincon de los Sauces, Neuquen, Argentina b CONICET, Argentina c Instituto de Investigacion en Paleobiología y Geología, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro-Conicet, Av. Gral. J. A. Roca 1242, 8332 General Roca, Río Negro, Argentina d Museo Provincial de Ciencias Naturales “Profesor Dr. Juan A. Olsacher”, Direccion Provincial de Minería, Etcheluz y Ejercito Argentino, 8340 Zapala, Neuquen, Argentina e Departamento Geología y Petroleo, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires 1400, Neuquen 8300, provincia del Neuquen, Argentina article info abstract Article history: A new basal sauropod titanosaur, Kaijutitan maui gen. et sp. nov., is described. The holotype of this Received 21 November 2018 species, which comes from the Sierra Barrosa Formation (upper Coniacian, Upper Cretaceous), consists of Received in revised form cranial, axial, and appendicular elements presenting an unique combination of plesiomorphic and 3 February 2019 apomorphic characters. The most notable characteristic observed in Kaijutitan is the presence of anterior Accepted in revised form 9 March 2019 cervical vertebrae with bifid neural spines, a condition that would have evolved several times among Available online 28 March 2019 sauropods. The phylogenetic analysis places Kaijutitan as a basal titanosaur, the sister taxon of Epachthosaurus þ Eutitanosauria. The new species supports the coexistence, in the Late Cretaceous Keywords: Sauropoda (Turonian-Santonian), of basal titanosaurs and eutitanosaurian sauropods, at least in Patagonia.
    [Show full text]
  • Cretaceous Stratigraphy of Pakistan
    Open Journal of Geology, 2019, 9, 671-673 https://www.scirp.org/journal/ojg ISSN Online: 2161-7589 ISSN Print: 2161-7570 Cretaceous Stratigraphy of Pakistan Muhammad Sadiq Malkani Geological Survey of Pakistan, Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan How to cite this paper: Malkani, M.S. Abstract (2019) Cretaceous Stratigraphy of Pakistan. Open Journal of Geology, 9, 671-673. Cretaceous strata of Pakistan yielded many significant fossils of terrestrial https://doi.org/10.4236/ojg.2019.910071 ecosystems like poripuch (all caudals are procoelous) lithostrotian titanosau- rian sauropods, abelisauroids theropods, mesoeucrocodiles, pterosaurs and Received: August 17, 2019 gymnosperm stem wood. Both marine and non-marine strata well exposed Accepted: September 21, 2019 Published: September 24, 2019 through the Cretaceous, Jurassic-Cretaceous and Cretaceous-Paleogene boundaries found in Pakistan especially in Indus Basin. Indus Basin Copyright © 2019 by author(s) and represents strata from Precambrian to Recent. Here a glimpse of Cretaceous Scientific Research Publishing Inc. Stratigraphy of Pakistan is being presented. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International Keywords License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Terrestrial, Marine, Stratigraphy, Cretaceous, Pakistan Open Access 1. Introduction Pakistan is lucky to host the Gondwanan, Eurasian and Tethyan heritage. Gondwanan heritage is represented by Indus Basin of Pakistan located in the centre, south and eastern Pakistan. The Eurasian heritage is represented by Hindukush-Karakoran basin located in northernmost Pakistan. The Tethyan heritage is represented by Balochistan magmatic arc and basin in western Pakis- tan, and Kohistan-Ladakh magmatic arc located in northern Pakistan. Creta- ceous rocks are exposed in all these basins but only Indus basin yields Creta- ceous fauna [1] so far.
    [Show full text]
  • 32-Vasconcellos and Carvalho (Barusuchus).P65
    Milàn, J., Lucas, S.G., Lockley, M.G. and Spielmann, J.A., eds., 2010, Crocodyle tracks and traces. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Bulletin 51. 227 PALEOICHNOLOGICAL ASSEMBLAGE ASSOCIATED WITH BAURUSUCHUS SALGADOENSIS REMAINS, A BAURUSUCHIDAE MESOEUCROCODYLIA FROM THE BAURU BASIN, BRAZIL (LATE CRETACEOUS) FELIPE MESQUITA DE VASCONCELLOS AND ISMAR DE SOUZA CARVALHO Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Geociências, Departamento de Geologia, CCMN, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos, 244, Zip Code 21.949-900, Cidade Universitária - Ilha do Fundão. Rio de Janeiro - RJ. Brazil; e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Abstract—The body fossil and ichnological fossil record associated with Baurusuchus salgadoensis (Baurusuchidae: Mesoeucrocodylia) in General Salgado County (Adamantina Formation, Bauru Basin, Brazil) is diverse and outstanding with regard to preservation and completeness. Invertebrate ichnofossils, fossil eggs, coprolites, gas- troliths and tooth marks on Baurusuchus fossils have been identified. The seasonal climate developed in the Bauru Basin during the Late Cretaceous created stressful conditions forcing animals to endure aridity and food scarcity. The Baurusuchidae underwent long arid seasons, probably resorting to intraspecific fighting, scavenging, self- burrowing mounds and stone ingestion. The integration of sedimentology, ichnology and taphonomic data is useful to reconstruct in detail the ecological scenarios under which Late Cretaceous Crocodyliformes survived. INTRODUCTION useful when dealing with paleoenvironmental and paleoecological recon- During the opening of the Atlantic Ocean, the continental rupture structions since there are direct and indirect evidences of lead to intracratonic volcanic activity and to the origin of a broad inter- paleoenvironmental, taphonomical, paleoecological and paleoethological continental depression in Brazil that is known as the Bauru Basin contexts, normally unavailable with even complete body fossil speci- (Fernandes and Coimbra, 1996).
    [Show full text]
  • Cell: +92-3448242697 Dr. MUHAMMAD UMAR
    Dr. MUHAMMAD UMAR I have started professional career in May, 1990, when I joined University service as lecturer. The jobs were primarily based on teaching and research. My Ph.D. research is related to facies analyses and reservoir characters of sandstone rich late Cretaceous Pab Formation southern Cell: +92-3448242697 Pakistan. The Pab Formation is one important reservoir in the region. The E-mail: [email protected] research work was both field and Laboratory oriented. I carried out research in Department of Geosciences, Aarhus University Denmark Subject: Geology during my Ph.D. The work was mainly related to petrography and diagenesis of sandstone. I used SEM and XRD during my stay. I am Date of birth: 27-11-1965 interested to work in sedimentology, stratigraphy with special reference to STATEMENT OF TEACHING Hydrocarbon exploration, both as identifying depositional environments AND RESEARCH INTERESTS as well as reservoir characterization (diagenesis). To link sedimentology with petroleum and groundwater exploration are my future research interest areas. I am interested to work in sedimentology, stratigraphy with special reference to Hydrocarbon exploration, both as identifying depositional environments as well as reservoir characterization (diagenesis). Currently I have been working on Precambrian-Cambrian sedimentary rocks of Hazara and salt Range areas of Pakistan. The studies are related to Basin evolution with reference to tectonic events of Precambrian-Cambrian and glaciations episodes. I am jointly working with colleagues from Environmental sciences on soil and hydrogeology. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE I have been serving in universities as Faculty member since May, 1990 (29 years). I have served as Assistant Professor and Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences COMSATS University Islamabad Abbottabad Campus, Pakistan for ten years.
    [Show full text]
  • Facies Distribution, Depositional Environments, Provenance and Reservoir Characters of Upper Cretaceous Succession Kirthar Fold Belt Pakistan
    FACIES DISTRIBUTION, DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS, PROVENANCE AND RESERVOIR CHARACTERS OF UPPER CRETACEOUS SUCCESSION KIRTHAR FOLD BELT PAKISTAN BY MUHAMMAD UMAR THESIS PRESENTED TO THE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN MINERALOGY UNIVERSITY OF BALOCHISTAN QUETTA FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY NOVEMBER 2007. CERTIFICATE This is to certify that this thesis titled “Facies Distribution, Depositional Environments, Provenance and Reservoir Characters of Upper Cretaceous succession Kirthar Fold Belt Pakistan” presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Centre of Excellence of Mineralogy, University of Balochistan, Quetta, is based on the original research work carried out by me. The thesis has been prepared and written by me. This research work has not been submitted for higher degree in any other institution. Muhammad Umar Student of Ph.D. Centre of Excellence in Mineralogy University of Balochistan Quetta CERTIFICATE This is to certify that Mr. Muhammad Umar has been engaged in Ph.D. research in the Centre of Excellence in Mineralogy, University of Balochistan Quetta, under the supervision of undersigned. He has fulfilled all the requirements regarding his registration and examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in accordance with the rules and regulations of the University of Balochistan. Dr. Abdul Salam Khan Research Supervisor Dr. AKhtar Muhammad Kassi Co- Supervisor Director Centre of Excellence in Minerology University of Balochistan, Quetta. Dean Faculty of Physical Science University of Balochistan Quetta I CONTENTS
    [Show full text]
  • The Stratigraphy of the Southern Pab Range, Pakistan
    Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1981 The trs atigraphy of the southern Pab Range, Pakistan Howard James White Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation White, Howard James, "The trs atigraphy of the southern Pab Range, Pakistan " (1981). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 6956. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/6956 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 8128867 WHITE, HOWARD JAMES THE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE SOUTHERN PAB RANGE, PAKISTAN Iowa State University PH.D. 1981 University Microfilms I ntornâtionsi 300N. Zeeb Road, AnnArbor,MI48106 PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark V . 1. Glossy photographs or pages 2. Colored illustrations, paper or print 3. Photographs with dark background ^ 4. Illustrations are poor copy 5. Pages with black marks, not original copy 6. Print shows through as there is text on both sides of page 7. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages 8. Print exceeds margin requirements 9. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine 10. Computer printout pages with indistinct print 11. Page(s) ' lacking when material received, and not available from school or author.
    [Show full text]
  • (Late Jurassic) Dinosaur Fossils Have Been Discovered in The
    Geol. Bull. Univ. Peshawar, Vol. 36, pp. 73-83, 2003 M. SADIQ MALKANI Paleontology and Stratigraphy Branch, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Sariab Road, Quetta, Pakistan ABSTRACT: First Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) dinosaur fossils have been discovered in the lowest horizon of Sembar Formation just near the contact of ZidiKhiltan Limestone, in the Sun Chaku locality of Karkh area, and Lakha Pir Charo locality of Zidi area, Khuzdar district, Balochistan, Pakistan. Fossils from the lowest part of the Semba? Formation in Kirthar Range, Pakistan, provide the first remains of Late Jurassic Titanosaurian dinosaur from Pakistan. However, the specimens collected to date include the poorly preserved, fragmentary and incomplete cross section of femur, metatarsals/metacarpals, ribs and proximal portion of fibula and distal portions of neural spines/diapophysis/zygapophysis. To acknowledge the tribe and locality, Brohisaurus kirthari, a new genus and species of Titanosauria, is erected on the basis of characters observed which are elliptical/eccentric nature of femoral cross section, well developed of proximal scar on proximal fibula, possible pneumatic cavities in the anterior ribs, massiveness in the distal ribs, less arced D shape cross section of rib and some resemblance of proximal fibula and ribs cross section to the Late Cretaceous Pakistani Titanosaurs. The degree of elliptical nature is diflerent from Late Cretaceous dinosaur fauna of Pakistan. This discovery of Jurassic dinosaur fossils from Pakistan is expected to develope great interest in local and global scientzjic community which will open new avenues of research such as exploration of any age of Mesozoic dinosaurs and their phylogeny and paleobiogeography. Dinosaurs were domrmnantland animals during most of the Mesozoic era from 225 to 65 million years ago, but became extinct at its end.
    [Show full text]
  • Article Titanosauria (Dinosauria, Sauropoda
    Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology e889145 (14 pages) Ó by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2014.889145 ARTICLE TITANOSAURIA (DINOSAURIA, SAUROPODA) FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS (TURONIAN) BISSEKTY FORMATION OF UZBEKISTAN HANS-DIETER SUES,*,1 ALEXANDER AVERIANOV,2,3 RYAN C. RIDGELY,4 and LAWRENCE M. WITMER4 1Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, MRC 121, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012, U.S.A., [email protected]; 2Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia; 3Department of Sedimentary Geology, Geology Faculty, Saint Petersburg State University, 16 liniya VO 29, St. Petersburg, 199178, Russia, [email protected]; 4Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, U.S.A., [email protected], [email protected] ABSTRACT—Exposures of the Bissekty Formation (Upper Cretaceous: middle–upper Turonian) at Dzharakuduk in the central Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan have yielded abundant dinosaurian remains. We report here on cranial and postcranial remains that can be attributed to titanosaurian sauropods. This material is of considerable interest in view of the relative scarcity of sauropod fossils from the Upper Cretaceous of Central Asia. An incomplete braincase originally assigned to the ceratopsian Turanoceratops tardabilis actually belongs to a derived titanosaurian. It shares a number of features (including broad basal tubera and presence of wide depression between basal tubera) with braincases of various derived titanosaurian taxa from Asia and South America. Computed tomographic (CT) scanning of the braincase permitted digital reconstruction of a partial endocast. Overall, this endocast resembles those of other sauropods, although the pituitary fossa is considerably swollen.
    [Show full text]
  • M. SADIQ MALKANI Paleontology and Stratigraphy Branch, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Sariab Road, Quetta, Pakistan
    ure M. SADIQ MALKANI Paleontology and Stratigraphy Branch, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Sariab Road, Quetta, Pakistan ABSTRACT: Four types of dermal amour bones of Titanosauria are discovered for the first time from the Late Cretaceous Pab Formation of Vitakri and Basti Ghulam Rasul (Zubra), Barkhan district, Balochistan, Pakistan. These dermal armour bones/osteoderms and scutes are diflerent in morphology and are present in the red, maroon and greenish grey shale/clays zone of upper Pab Formation, just below or on the boundary of Mesozoic (Cretaceous) and Cenozoic (Tertiary/Paleocene). 'lirze upper Pub Formation seems to be a flesh water deposition in the Sulaiman range deduced from sedimentary structure and it has yielded a large number of archosaurian such as dinosaur and crocodilianfossils discovered during this study. The variation of size and shape of dermal armour bones may depend on dzflerent positions. However their positions are not clear because these are found fhagmentary and are not articulated. TheJirst and second types can be positioned such as above the ribs, on back/tail/limbs etc., due to their light weight. The positions of third and fourth types of armour plate can be positioned on mial column, especially from neck to sacral region like ornithishian. These may occur as single median or double row. In general view these seem to belong to omithischian, but materials found nearby belong to both Titanosaurids (Pakisaurids) and Saltasaurids. Recently flve new genus and species of Titanosauria (Titanosaurids/Pakisaurids,and Saltasaurids) are erected on the basis of morphology of caudal vertebrae, but the assignment of dermal armour bones at species/ genus/ family level is d~flcult.
    [Show full text]
  • Depositional Settings of Cretaceous Rocks in Central Indus
    Depositional settings of Cretaceous rocks in Central Indus Basin of Pakistan; a review Husnain Yousaf Department of Earth and Environmental Science, KU Leuven, Belgium Corresponding Author; [email protected] Key Words: Central Indus Basin, Cretaceous rocks, Sedimentation, Paleogeography, Depositional setting, Indian Plate, Abstract There is a growing need for improved understanding of tectonic and sedimentary processes that occurred in the geological past, and apply this knowledge for better constraining the paleogeography, basin configuration and depositional settings. The Cretaceous was one of the most important and longest periods in the geological history. Break-up of Gondwana supercontinent and northward drifting of Indian plate, made the latter a separate and isolated island where initiation and development of new sedimentary basins took place. Sediments deposited during Cretaceous times are of major interest. Almost the complete stratigraphic sequence ranging from Late Tithonian through Neocomian to Maastrichtian is well developed and known as hydrocarbon bearing succession in Indus Basin of Pakistan. The study area is located in the central part of Pakistan which is known as Central Indus Basin, encompassing of Sulaiman fold-and-thrust belt, Sulaiman foredeep and Punjab Platform. An attempt has been made here to constrain depositional settings by critical review of published literature on Cretaceous paleogeography of the Indian Plate and detailed investigation of sedimentary rock sequences, comprising about one-third of the territory. Litho-facies maps of Sembar and Goru Formations, Parh Limestone, MughalKot and Fort Munro Formations and Pab Sandstone were prepared by incorporating available surface and subsurface geological information. The results indicate the existence of a broad shelf (Peri- cratonic basin), that was highly influenced by transgression and regression caused by sea level changes.
    [Show full text]