| Marisaurus Temporal range: Late Cretaceous | |
|---|---|
| |
| Marisaurus jeffi as depicted by Simsrockero on the Primeval Fanon Wiki | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Superorder: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | Sauropodomorpha |
| Genus: | †Marisaurus Malkani, 2006 |
| Species: | M. jeffi |
| Binomial name | |
| Marisaurus jeffi Malkani, 2006 | |
Marisaurus (meaning "Mari lizard")[1] is a dubious extinct genus of sauropod dinosaur that reached 17 metres (56 feet) in length, and weighed 11 tonnes.[2] It was first described by palaeontologist Muhammad Sediq Malkani in 2006[3], and has been found in Balochistan, a province in Pakistan. It lived about 100 to 90 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period.[4]
Description[]
"Marisaurus jeffi" as depicted by Simsrockero on the Primeval Fanon Wiki
Although Marisaurus is currently considered a dubious dinosaur, according to M.S. Malkani (Muhammad Sediq Malkani), 6 specimens have currently been found and informally named as Marisaurus. [5] Generally similar to other titanosaurs, Marisaurus can be described as having a small head, powerful legs, a large body, a long tail and a long neck.[4]
Marisaurus is most similar to its closest relative, the dubious Balochisaurus, as they are both in the same dubious family of titanosaurs, Balochisauridae. These two sauropods are the only dinosaurs categorized in this group. This family was created by M.S. Malkani as a way to categorise the Pakistani sauropods discovered in an area with over 6000 fossils found and another family of titanosaurs created by M.S. Malkani, the Pakisauridae.[6]
Marisaurus was described from a single vertebrae originally,[3] however later specimens that have been also named Marisaurus by M.S. Malkani also have partial skull and dentary in their skeletons.[7]
Discovery & Naming[]
Marisaurus jeffi was first described by M.S. Malkani in 2006.[3] Its name is derived from the Mari tribe in Balochistan, Pakistan & saurus (Latin for "lizard").[1]
M.S. Malkani rushed the naming of the dinosaurs found in the area found with 6000 fossils, which includes Marisaurus's name. This is why Marisaurus is currently considered dubious, as even though M.S. Malkani stated that 5 more specimens had been found, they remain too fragmented to understand. This was done in order for the dinosaurs to be able to be published in a 2006 paper that would come out soon after Marisaurus's discovery.[8]
Classification[]
Marisaurus is classified in the sauropodomorph family Balochisauridae, and the clade Titanosauria. It shares its family with just one other sauropod, Balochisaurus. [9]They are both dubious dinosaurs with names rushed due to M.S. Malkani wanting to publish them in a 2006 paper soon after their discoveries. Marisaurus is the more likely genus to exist, however, as 6 specimens have reportedly been found, including partial dentary and skull in skeletons.[10]
Paleoecology[]
Marisaurus is believed to have lived in a terrestrial environment containing many lakes and possibly being deltaic. It likely lived in areas near bodies of water, [11]and would probably spend its time feeding on a variety of different plants. The specific kinds of plants are currently unknown, but due to Marisaurus being a sauropod, it had to have been a herbivore.[12]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://handwiki.org/wiki/Biology:Marisaurus
- ↑ https://dinoanimals.com/dinosaurdatabase/marisaurus-jeffi/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/marisaurus/#:~:text=In%20Depth,%E2%80%ACall%20from%20caudal%20vertebrae.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/M-Sadiq-Malkani/publication/282330397_Marisaurus_Balochisauridae_Titanosauria_remains_from_the_latest_Cretaceous_of_Pakistan/links/5a92de40a6fdccecff059579/Marisaurus-Balochisauridae-Titanosauria-remains-from-the-latest-Cretaceous-of-Pakistan.pdf#:~:text=Marisaurus%20associated%20remains%20has%20been%20found%20from,one%20third)%20skeleton%20of%20titanosaur%20yet%20discovered.
- ↑ https://dinosaurpictures.org/Marisaurus-pictures
- ↑ https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=111096
- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282407263_Discovery_of_Partial_Skull_and_Dentary_of_Titanosauria_Sauropod_dinosaur_from_the_Late_Cretaceous_Pab_Formation_of_Vitakri_area_Barkhan_district_Balochistan_Pakistan
- ↑ https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/balochisaurus/#:~:text=In%20Depth,%E2%80%ACwhich%20also%20includes%20Marisaurus.
- ↑ https://www.mindat.org/taxon-P119556.html
- ↑ https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=112161#:~:text=Etymology:%20Genus%20Balochi%2C%20honors%20host,were%20honored.
- ↑ https://paleobiodb.org/classic/displayCollResults?a=displayCollectionDetails&collection_no=79666#:~:text=Environment:,of%20Sulaiman%20range...%22&text=Primary%20reference:
- ↑ https://dinosaurdictionary.com/marisaurus-overview-size-habitat-other-facts/