Marisaurus (Balochisauridae, Titanosauria) remains from the latest Cretaceous of Pakistan.

December 2008 ProjectsDinosaurs and Mesozoic vertebrates from Pakistan: Paleobiogeography of Indo-Pak peninsula (South Asia)Tectonic evolution and geodynamics of Indo-Pak subcontinent M. Sadiq MalkaniM. Sadiq Malkani Abstract Marisaurus associated remains has been found from the latest Cretaceous Vitakri member of Pab Formation in Mari Bohri, Darwaza, Bor, Kinwa, Top Kinwa, Alam Kali Kakor and some other localitie of Sulaiman Basin, Pakistan. Marisaurus from Alam Kali Kakor locality provides the opportunity to view the most complete (more than one third) skeleton of titanosaur yet discovered. It is also hoped other remaining preserved assemblages can be found on further excavations at many sites. The Marisaurus (Balochisaurus and Pakisaurus) bear the associated cranial, vertebral and limb elements found from Pakistan, because previously no such associations are found except Rapetosaurus from Madagascar and a few recent discoveries from Argentina. It also helps to resolve the position of Mongolian genera like Nemegtosaurus and Quaesitosaurus. It provides new insights in to skull and postcranial morphology. Multipurpose tail special with trispinous distalmost caudal centrum of Marisaurus (and Balochisaurus) of Balochisauridae and some or all genera of Pakisauridae found from Pakistan provide a new look of titanosaurs. The skull discoveries of Marisaurus (and Balochisaurus) adds the general morphs of sauropod skulls like moderate inclined, elongate and camellate (with large open internal cells), in the previously reported two morphs like high and short, and low and elongate. Due to dearth of cranial data and lack of common associated elements in titanosaurs has left even the most basic skeletal morphology of the clade controversial and has precluded detailed study of its higher and lower level phylogeny, but now Pakistan has this advantage which produced associated cranial, axial and appendicular elements of Marisaurus (and also Balochisaurus and Pakisaurus).