Comparative Analysis of the Dinosaur Record of Pakistan with World Dinosaurs as Diversity and Paleobiogeography Implications

Abstract

Pakistan dinosaur diversity was once poorly known but this record is now considered a significant part of Gondwanan paleontology. Recent discoveries of fossils especially from Baluchistan have revealed a rich variety of dinosaurs. These include Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous titanosaurian sauropods. Theropod dinosaurs and track based ichno taxa also found. This study accumulates present data of dinosaur diversity geographic distribution and geological context in Pakistan. It is based on important fossiliferous sites of Pakistan such as the Pab Formation and the Sembar Formation. The most common group in this record is the titanosaurs. They are represented by the genera Balochisaurus, Pakisaurus & Sulaimanisaurus, Vitakridrinda & Vitakrisaurus. They are also known from theropods which were active hunters of their era. Dinosaur trackways have been reported from at many sites including Mianwali, Zhob and the Potwar Plateau. These findings show that Pakistan is an important region for understanding dinosaur paleoecology and biogeographic links with Gondwana. Further research is needed in Pakistan to improve taxonomy and support the evolutionary interpretations.