Titanosaurian remains in Upper Cretaceous Mahadek Formation of Meghalaya, India
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Ben Creisler
Aug 10, 2026, 3:22:58 PM (3 days ago) Aug 10
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Ben Creisler
Bashisha Iangrai, Linashree Dalabehera, Vinod Kumar K. B & Darinia War (2026)
Evidence of titanosaurian remains in the Upper Cretaceous Mahadek Formation of Meghalaya (India) with the paleohistology, sedimentological and taphonomical data
Cretaceous Research 106466
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2026.106466
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667126001552
Highlights
Sauropod remains with probable titanosaurian affinities documented from the Upper Cretaceous Mahadek Formation of Meghalaya.
Dental and postcranial bones exhibit definitive anatomical links to Titanosauria.
Paleohistological data indicate rapid bone deposition, extensive secondary remodeling, and somatic maturity of the Meghalaya specimens reflecting growth strategies shared by titanosaurian sauropods across Gondwana and Laurasia.
The sedimentological and taphonomic study suggests deposition within a shallow braided fluvial overbank floodplain system.
ABSTRACT
The present work is an attempt to identify the incomplete, isolated teeth and disarticulated sauropod dinosaur bones recorded from the Upper Cretaceous Mahadek Formation of South West Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, India. The assemblage comprises two teeth and disarticulated bone fragments including partially preserved humerus, scapula, dorsal rib and vertebrae. Comparative analysis of the dental material with Late Cretaceous titanosaurian sauropods from multiple localities revealed closest affinity to Morphotype I teeth recorded from the Kem Kem beds of Morocco, consistent with titanosauriforms/titanosaur attribution. The postcranial elements show significant morphological affinities with Jainosaurus septentrionalis, Huabeisaurus allocotus, Lirainosaurus astibiae, and other Late Cretaceous titanosaurian sauropods. However, the inadequate morphological evidence for definitive generic identification of the teeth and postcranial elements could not be established owing to the paucity of fossils, poor preservation and fragmentary condition. Therefore, the specimens are assigned to Titanosauria indet. with probable titanosaur affinities. Paleohistological data indicate rapid bone deposition, extensive secondary remodeling, and somatic maturity of the Meghalaya specimens reflecting growth strategies shared by titanosaurian sauropods across Gondwana and Laurasia. Finally, this study focuses on the taphonomic mode of the bones suggesting a medium to high energy, fast sedimentation and rapid burial with evidences of abrasion and fragmentation, and sedimentological analysis indicates deposition in a braided fluvial floodplain with episodic high-energy flooding facilitating burial and preservation. These findings are therefore very significant, enriching our understanding of dinosaur diversity and distribution in the Upper Cretaceous formations of India and opening up a wealth of possibilities for future research.
A new paper:
Bashisha Iangrai, Linashree Dalabehera, Vinod Kumar K. B & Darinia War (2026)
Evidence of titanosaurian remains in the Upper Cretaceous Mahadek Formation of Meghalaya (India) with the paleohistology, sedimentological and taphonomical data
Cretaceous Research 106466
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2026.106466
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667126001552
Highlights
Sauropod remains with probable titanosaurian affinities documented from the Upper Cretaceous Mahadek Formation of Meghalaya.
Dental and postcranial bones exhibit definitive anatomical links to Titanosauria.
Paleohistological data indicate rapid bone deposition, extensive secondary remodeling, and somatic maturity of the Meghalaya specimens reflecting growth strategies shared by titanosaurian sauropods across Gondwana and Laurasia.
The sedimentological and taphonomic study suggests deposition within a shallow braided fluvial overbank floodplain system.
ABSTRACT
The present work is an attempt to identify the incomplete, isolated teeth and disarticulated sauropod dinosaur bones recorded from the Upper Cretaceous Mahadek Formation of South West Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, India. The assemblage comprises two teeth and disarticulated bone fragments including partially preserved humerus, scapula, dorsal rib and vertebrae. Comparative analysis of the dental material with Late Cretaceous titanosaurian sauropods from multiple localities revealed closest affinity to Morphotype I teeth recorded from the Kem Kem beds of Morocco, consistent with titanosauriforms/titanosaur attribution. The postcranial elements show significant morphological affinities with Jainosaurus septentrionalis, Huabeisaurus allocotus, Lirainosaurus astibiae, and other Late Cretaceous titanosaurian sauropods. However, the inadequate morphological evidence for definitive generic identification of the teeth and postcranial elements could not be established owing to the paucity of fossils, poor preservation and fragmentary condition. Therefore, the specimens are assigned to Titanosauria indet. with probable titanosaur affinities. Paleohistological data indicate rapid bone deposition, extensive secondary remodeling, and somatic maturity of the Meghalaya specimens reflecting growth strategies shared by titanosaurian sauropods across Gondwana and Laurasia. Finally, this study focuses on the taphonomic mode of the bones suggesting a medium to high energy, fast sedimentation and rapid burial with evidences of abrasion and fragmentation, and sedimentological analysis indicates deposition in a braided fluvial floodplain with episodic high-energy flooding facilitating burial and preservation. These findings are therefore very significant, enriching our understanding of dinosaur diversity and distribution in the Upper Cretaceous formations of India and opening up a wealth of possibilities for future research.
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