Pakisaurus: Research Database
Mesozoic · Fossil Record
Research Note: Pakisaurus was a significant fossil species providing important data on vertebrate evolution.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
García 2012: Pakisaurus and titanosaur diversity in the Cretaceous Cretaceous Research | Confirmed | A | 2012 | Fossil | García, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
Sander & Peitz 2008: New data on Pakisaurus and Cretaceous sauropods Palaeontographica | Confirmed | B | 2008 | Fossil | Sander & Peitz, Palaeontographica | Taxonomy |
What We Still Do Not Know About Pakisaurus
- Complete skeletal morphology.
- Phylogenetic relationships.
- Ecological role.
In Depth
Named from only four caudal vertebrae, Pakisaurus is a genus that faces a future where without further remains, it will probably end up being regarded as a dubious genus. This is because even if new titanosaurian sauropod fossils are discovered, they cannot be confidently assigned to the genus unless they are found in association (ideally articulated) to further caudal vertebrae that are an exact match to those that were used to describe the genus. Likewise the Pakisauridae, a family group established with Pakisaurus as the type genus, has not yet seen widespread international use for the very same reasons that Pakisaurus will likely be regarded as a dubious genus. At the time of writing, Pakisaurus is usually classified only as a member of the Titanosauria.
Named from only four caudal vertebrae, Pakisaurus is a genus that faces a future where without further remains, it will probably end up being regarded as a dubious genus. This is because even if new titanisaurian sauropod fossils are discovered, they cannot be confidently assigned to the genus unless they are found in association (ideally articulated) to further caudal vertebrae that are an exact match to those that were used to describe the genus. Likewise the Pakisauridae, a family group established with Pakisaurus as the type genus, has not yet seen widespread international use for the very same reasons that Pakisaurus will likely be regarded as a dubious genus. At the time of writing, Pakisaurus is usually classified only as a member of the Titanosauria.
In 2006 M. Sadiq Malkani also named four other titanosaur genera, Balochisaurus, Khetranisaurus, Marisaurus and Sulaimanisaurus, all based upon the description of caudal vertebrae. Malkani also named a new genus of abelisaurid theropod, Vitakridrinda.
Further Reading
– Saurischian dinosaurs from Late Cretaceous of Pakistan, by M. S. Malkani. – In, Pakistan Geological Congress, Islamabad. National Geological Society of Pakistan, Pakistan Museum of Natural History (Pakistan Science Foundation) 71-73, – S. S. Hussain & H. D. Akbar (eds.) – 2004. - Biodiversity of saurischian dinosaurs from the latest Cretaceous Park of Pakistan, M. Sadiq Malkani - 2006.
