TITLE:
Theropods, Ornithischians and Pterosaurs from South Asia-Review with New Taxa: A Look at Paleontology, Stratigraphy and Mineral Potential of Pakistan
AUTHORS:
Muhammad Sadiq Malkani
KEYWORDS:
Theropods, Ankylosaurs, Hadrosaurs, Stegosaurs, Ornithischia, Pterosaurs, Indo-Pakistan Subcontinent, Paleontology, Stratigraphy, Mineral Potential, Pakistan
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.15 No.1,
January
27,
2025
ABSTRACT: Dinosaur discoveries from India have been known since 1844, while dinosaur discoveries from Pakistan have appeared recently since 2000. 3 large and 2 small theropod dinosaurs are known from Pakistan, while 11 large and 4 small theropods are known from India. Pakistani land uncovered many footprints and trackways of Jurassic small and large theropods, Jurassic ankylosaur and Cretaceous hadrosaur ornithischian dinosaurs, while Indian land uncovered a footprint of small and a footprint of large theropod and 1 footprint of stegosaur. Pakistan uncovered a Jurassic bone taxon of ankylosaur ornithischian based on heavily armored synapomorphies. Recently, Pakistan yielded 1 bone taxon and 1 ichno taxon of pterosaurs, while Indian land yielded 1 bone taxon of pterosaur. Pakistani land uncovered 14 bone taxa (and 2 ichno taxa) of herbivorous sauropod dinosaurs, 5 bone taxa (and 2 ichnotaxa) of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs, 1 bone taxon of ankylosaur and 2 (ichnotaxa) of ornithischian (ankylosaur and hadrosaurs) dinosaurs, 1 bone taxon (and 1 ichno taxon) of pterosaurs, 1 plesiosaur, 7 crocodiles, 1 snake, 1 bird, 11 mammals, 3 fishes, 7 invertebrates and 1 plant. This study fills a significant gap in the literature by bringing together paleontological records from an understudied geographical location, enhancing the global understanding of dinosaur paleobiogeography. Pakistan hosts Precambrian to recent sediments igneous and metamorphic rocks. Pakistan is rich in mineral resources/rocks, but it needs more attention for its development to fulfill local requirements and earn foreign exchange.