Formal Description of Mesozoic and Cenozoic Biotas Found from Pakistan

Abstract

During the early two decades of third millennium, many Mesozoic and Cenozoic biotas belong to plesiosaur, Titanosauriformes, titanosaurs, theropods, Mesoeucrocodiles, pterosaur, bird, snake, fishes, mammals, eucrocodiles, invertebrates and plants from Pakistan were found. Previously a few were formally published according to nomenclatural rules. Most of the Mesozoic vertebrates were formally published in August 2021, and the remaining Mesozoic and Cenozoic biotas are being formally described here.

Geology of Northern Sulaiman Foldbelt, Shirani and Waziristan Regions (South Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa): New Tomistominae (Miocene False Gharial) from Sakhi Sarwar Area of Dera Ghazi Khan (South Punjab), Pakistan

“…Besides these, the ichnotaxa reported from Kohat-Potwar-Kotli basin (North Indus/upper Indus basin) are Malakhelisauroperus mianwali [109] [114] [116] [117] Ornithopaonia [109] (titanosaurian sauropod or ornithischian dinosaurs), Samanadrindoperus surghari [109] [116] [117] Theropaonia [109] large sized theropod, and Himalayadrinda potwari [109] [116] [117] Theropaonia [109] small sized theropods, and from Kirthar basin (south Indus/lower Indus basin) are Chiltansauroperus nicki [109] Sauropaonia [109] sauropod. Before August 2021, these vertebrates were informal and unofficial by the rules of the ICZN, but all they formalized by the rules of the ICZN in August 2021 [105] and September 2021 [109].…”

“…The small, medium and large sized herbivorous titanosaurian sauropods were reported from Pakistan. The bone fossils of poripuchian titanosaurs (Sauropoda) comprised of Gspsaurus pakistani [105] [106] [107] [108], Maojandino alami [109], Saraikimasoom vitakri [105] [110] and Nicksaurus razashahi [109] of Gspsauridae, Balochisaurus malkani [109] and Marisaurus jeffi [109] of Balochisauridae and Pakisaurus balochistani [26] [105], Anokhadino mirliaquati [103], Sulaimanisaurus gingerichi [105] and Khetranisaurus barkhani [105] of Pakisauridae. The abelisaurian theropods comprised of Vitakridrinda sulaimani [105] [111] and Vitakrisaurus saraiki [105] [111] of Vitakrisauridae.…”

“…Further the Maastrichtian Sor Member (Figure 8) of Pab sandstone of Sur Muzghai Musafarpur yielded ichnotaxa (Figure 8) based on tracks/trackways are Pashtosau-roperus zhobi [109] [113] [114] of Ornithopaonia [109] (titanosaurian sauropod or ornithischian dinosaurs) and Anmolpakhiperus alleni [109] [114] of Pteropaonia [109] pterosaur, and Maarri area yielded ichnotaxon Dgkhansauroperus maarri [109] [114] [115] of Sauropaonia [109] titanosaurian sauropod. Besides these, the ichnotaxa reported from Kohat-Potwar-Kotli basin (North Indus/upper Indus basin) are Malakhelisauroperus mianwali [109] [114] [116] [117] Ornithopaonia [109] (titanosaurian sauropod or ornithischian dinosaurs), Samanadrindoperus surghari [109] [116] [117] Theropaonia [109] large sized theropod, and Himalayadrinda potwari [109] [116] [117] Theropaonia [109] small sized theropods, and from Kirthar basin (south Indus/lower Indus basin) are Chiltansauroperus nicki [109] Sauropaonia [109] sauropod. Before August 2021, these vertebrates were informal and unofficial by the rules of the ICZN, but all they formalized by the rules of the ICZN in August 2021 [105] and September 2021 [109].…”

“…The Cenozoic strata of the Sulaiman basin (middle Indus/Central Indus) yielded many vertebrates for a long time. But recently the Eocene strata yielded walking whales Artiocetus clavis [118], Rodhocetus balochistanensis [118] from the Kunvit Rakhni area (Figure 4) and swimming whale Sulaimanitherium dhanotri [109] [113] [114] [119] from Zamri Drug area (Figure 7) and horses/cyonid Bolanicyon shahani [109] [114], the Oligocene Chitarwata Formation yielded largest land rhinoceros Buzdartherium gulkirao [109] [114], and large eucrocodile Asifcroco retrai [109] [114] Crocodilidae from Gulki area (Figure 7), and the Miocene Litra sandstone yielded the large proboscidean Gomphotherium buzdari [109] [114] from Mahoi area (Figure 7). The Tertiary vertebrate (alluvial riverine) Pakitherium shagalai with her baby [109] [114] [119] was first time reported from Shagala area (Figure 8) of Balochistan Basin because previously it was considered marine flysh deposits.…”

“…Besides vertebrates, the Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata yielded many invertebrates. Recently reported invertebrates [109] are arthropods Nisaukankoil beakeri [109] and Phailawaghkankoil derabugti [109] from Early Paleocene Rakhi Gaj sandstone and nautiloid Pakiwheel vitakri [109] from Early Paleocene Sangiali green shale and sandstone. Previously the reference [120] and others reported much mammalian fauna from the Su-…”