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PAKISAURUS
(pak-e-sore-us)
meaning: "Pakistan lizard"
Named By: M. Sadiq Malkani in 2006
Time Period: Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous
Location: Pakistan, Balochistan - Pab Formation
Size: Unknown due to lack of remains
Diet: Herbivore
Fossil(s): Based upon the description of 4 caudal (tail) vertebrae. 3 further vertebrae later assigned to the genus
Classification: | Chordata | Reptilia | Dinosauria | Saurischia | Sauropodomorpha | Sauropoda | Titanosauria | Pakisauridae |
About

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.

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.

Read more about Pakisaurus at Wikipedia
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