New titanosaurid (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of central India

ABSTRACT

The earliest record of titanosaurids anywhere in the world was established in India in 1877. Further collections from fossiliferous pockets near Jabalpur were made by C. E Matley during 1917–1919. This material formed the basis of a number of taxa from the Indian Late Cretaceous, even though most of the bones were isolated and fragmented. New titanosaurid skeletal material (collected during 1984–1986) described here represents part of an individual in associated and mostly articulated condition, though skull, hind limb and foot bones are missing. Paucity of associated skeletal remains of titanosaurids anywhere in the world makes the present find valuable in understanding these specialized sauropods. A new taxon, Titanosaurus colberti, is erected for the reception of the new material. The genus Titanosaurus is diagnosed and three species are identified from India: T. indicus, T. blanfordi, and T. madagascanensis.