Pab Formation

Pab Formation
Pab Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian ; ~66 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Geological formation
Underlies	Ranikot Group
Overlies	Monajhal Group
Thickness	150–250 m (490–820 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone
Other	Mudstone, shale
Location
Region	Balochistan
Country	Pakistan

Last updated December 27, 2025

The Pab Formation is a Late Cretaceous geologic formation in Balochistan, in western Pakistan. It is dominated by sandstone, with minor mudstone and shale components.^[1] Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.^[2]

Fossil content

Among the following fossils were reported from the formation:

Color key

Taxon	Reclassified taxon	Taxon falsely reported as present	Dubious taxon or junior synonym	Ichnotaxon	Ootaxon	Morphotaxon

Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; ~~crossed out~~ taxa are discredited.

Dinosaurs

Sauropods

Sauropods of the Pab Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Isisaurus ^[3]	I. colberti	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian	Braincase, possible Ulna	A lithostrotian titanosaur
Jainosaurus ?^[3]	J. septentrionalis	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian	Humerus	A colossosaurian titanosaur
Lithostrotia Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A lithostrotian titanosaur; informally known as "Khetranisaurus barkhani".
Lithostrotia Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A lithostrotian titanosaur; informally known as "Maojandino alami".
Lithostrotia Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A lithostrotian titanosaur; informally known as "Pakisaurus balochistani".
Lithostrotia Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A lithostrotian titanosaur; informally known as "Sulaimanisaurus gingerichi".
Opisthocoelicaudiinae Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A opisthocoelicaudiine saltasaurid; informally known as "Balochisaurus malkani".
Saltasaurinae Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A saltasaurine saltasaurid; informally known as "Marisaurus jeffi".
Titanosauria Indet.	Indetrminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A titanosaurian sauropod; Informally known as "Gspsasaurus pakistani".
Titanosauria Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A titanosauria titanosaur; informally known as "Imrankhanhero zilefatmi".
Titanosauria Indet.	Indeteminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A titanosaurian sauropod; informally known as "Nicksaurus razashahi"
Titanosauria Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakrid Member	Maastrichtian		A titanosaurian sauropod; informally known as "Qaikshaheen masoomniazi".
Titanosauria Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakrid Member	Maastrichtian		A titanosaurian sauropod; informally known as "Saraikimasoom vitakri".

Theropods

Theropods of the Pab Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Abelisauridae Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A abelisaurid theropod; informally as "Shansaraiki insafi".
Enantiornithes Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A enantiornithean bird
Majungasaurinae Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A majungasaurine abelisaurid; informally known as "Vitakridrinda sulaimani".
Noasauridae Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A noasaurid theropod; informally known as "Vitakrisaurus saraiki".

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs of the Pab Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images

Crocodylomorphs

Crocodylomorphs of the Pab Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Pabwehshi ^[4]	P. pakistanensis	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian	Skull elements	A baurusuchine baurusuchid
Dyrosauridae Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A dyrosaurid tethysuchian; informally known as "Sulaimanisuchus kinwai".
Mahajangasuchidae Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A mahaangasuchid notosuchian; informally known as "Induszalim bala".
Notosuchia Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A notosuchian metasuchian; informally known as "Khuzdarcroco zahri".

Squamates

Squamates of the Pab Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Madtsoiidae Indet.	Indeterminate	Vitakri Member	Maastrichtian		A madtsoiid snake; informaly known as "Wadanaang kohsulaimani".

Mammals

Mammals of the Pab Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images

Fish

Fishes of the Pab Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images

References

↑ Umar, Muhammad; Friis, Henrik; Khan, Abdul Salam; Kelling, Gilbert; Kassi, Akhtar Muhammad; Sabir, Muhammad Amjad; Farooq, Muhammad (2013-11-07). "Sediment Composition and Provenance of the Pab Formation, Kirthar Fold Belt, Pakistan: Signatures of Hot Spot Volcanism, Source Area Weathering, and Paleogeography on the Western Passive Margin of the Indian Plate During the Late Cretaceous". Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering . 39 (1): 311–324. doi:10.1007/s13369-013-0850-4. ISSN 1319-8025.
↑ Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
1 2 Wilson, Jeffrey A.; Barrett, Paul M.; Carrano, Matthew T. (September 2011). "An associated partial skeleton of Jainosaurus cf. septentrionalis (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Chhota Simla, Central India". Palaeontology. 54 (5): 981–998. Bibcode:2011Palgy..54..981W. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01087.x. hdl: 2027.42/86940 .
↑ Wilson, Jeffrey A.; Malkani, M. Sadiq; Gingerich, Philip D. (2001). "New crocodyliform (Reptilia, Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Upper Cretaceous Pab Formation of Vitakri, Balochistan (Pakistan)". Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan. 30 (12): 321–336.

Bibliography

Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; Osmólska, Halszka (2004), The Dinosauria, 2nd edition, Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. 1–880, ISBN 0-520-24209-2 , retrieved 2019-02-21{{citation}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)

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[1] Umar, Muhammad; Friis, Henrik; Khan, Abdul Salam; Kelling, Gilbert; Kassi, Akhtar Muhammad; Sabir, Muhammad Amjad; Farooq, Muhammad (2013-11-07). "Sediment Composition and Provenance of the Pab Formation, Kirthar Fold Belt, Pakistan: Signatures of Hot Spot Volcanism, Source Area Weathering, and Paleogeography on the Western Passive Margin of the Indian Plate During the Late Cretaceous". Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering . 39 (1): 311–324. doi:10.1007/s13369-013-0850-4. ISSN 1319-8025.

[dinosaurdistribution-2] Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.

[:1-3] 1 2 Wilson, Jeffrey A.; Barrett, Paul M.; Carrano, Matthew T. (September 2011). "An associated partial skeleton of Jainosaurus cf. septentrionalis (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Chhota Simla, Central India". Palaeontology. 54 (5): 981–998. Bibcode:2011Palgy..54..981W. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01087.x. hdl: 2027.42/86940 .

[JAWetal01-4] Wilson, Jeffrey A.; Malkani, M. Sadiq; Gingerich, Philip D. (2001). "New crocodyliform (Reptilia, Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Upper Cretaceous Pab Formation of Vitakri, Balochistan (Pakistan)". Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan. 30 (12): 321–336.

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