Pronunciation: suh-RI-kee-ma-SOOM
Meaning: Innocent one
Author/s: Malkani MS (2014)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Balochistan, Pakistan
Discovery Chart Position: #876
Saraikimasoom vitakri
(Vitakri innocent one)Etymology
Saraikimasoom is derived from "Saraiki" (the language of the area in which it was discovered) and the Saraiki word "masoom" (innocent). The species epithet, vitakri, refers to the formation in which it was discovered.
Discovery
The remains of Saraikimasoom were found at the Kinwa Kali Kakor locality of the Vitakri Formation (Fort Munro Group), Barkhan district, Balochistan, Pakistan.
The holotype (MSM-142-4) is a partial skull that was previously referred to Balochisaurus malkani.
Malkani refers a vast quantity of isolated sauropod material from multiple localities across the Sulaiman and Kirthar basins to Saraikimasoom, including sites at Kinwa, Sangiali, Mari Bohri, Dada Pahi, Zubra Basti, Gambrak, and Karkh. These assignments rely on general similarity and regional association rather than overlapping diagnostic anatomy, resulting in a broad and heterogeneous assemblage that cannot be securely linked to the skull-based holotype. Also, the Nicksaurus razashahi holotype, plus one of two tail vertebrae (K27/501) and a partial "stocky tibia" (K27/508) that were previously assigned to Titanosaurus blandfordi, were also assigned here.
