TITLE:
First Snout with Complete Teeth Row of Small Titanosaur in Indo-Pakistan Found from the Latest Maastrichtian Vitakri Formation of Pakistan; Associated Cranial and Postcranial Skeletons of Saraikimasoom vitakri (Poripuchia, Stocky Titanosauria, Sauropoda) from Pakistan and Referred Fossils from India
AUTHORS:
Muhammad Sadiq Malkani
KEYWORDS:
Titanosauria, Stocky Poripuchia, Snout, Skeletons, Saraikimasoom, South Asia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.10 No.4,
April
17,
2020
ABSTRACT: Titanosaurs articulated cranial elements especially jaw bones with articulated complete teeth row are extraordinarily rare. Here the holotypic snout with articulated jaw bones and complete teeth row of Saraikimasoom vitakri are being presented which has international significance and contributes to understanding the evolutionary relationships and paleobiogeographic history of the vertebrates of Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. The completeness of the skeleton, in particular the presence of a well-preserved skull has a significant influence on resolution of titanosaur phylogeny. Here Saraikimasoom vitakri holotypic snout from South Kinwa, and referred jaw with articulated pointed and rounded teeth along with associated postcranial fossils from north Kinwa, and other associated materials from Mari Bohri, mid-Sangiali, Zubra Basti Nala and Grut localities of Pakistan are being presented. All these assemblages show consistent results.