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Pakistan Stratigraphy

Fossils

Fossils of Pakistan

Pakistan’s strata document the rise of apes and the birth of whales, alongside a billion years of marine life. Start with the landmark finds, or browse every fossil-bearing unit by group. 121 of 285 formations carry a recorded fossil note.

Landmark finds

Cenozoic

The first apes — Sivapithecus

The Potwar Siwaliks yielded Sivapithecus, an early great ape central to the debate over the origin of the orangutan lineage.

Cenozoic

The first whales

Eocene rocks of Punjab and Balochistan captured the move of mammals back to the sea — walking whales like Pakicetus and Ambulocetus.

Cenozoic

The Siwalik mammal fauna

River sediments shed off the rising Himalaya preserve one of Earth’s richest fossil-mammal records — elephants, rhinos, giraffes, horses, Deinotherium and Stegodon.

Mesozoic

Balochistan dinosaurs

Latest-Cretaceous beds of the Sulaiman region have produced titanosaur sauropod dinosaurs — among the few dinosaur finds in Pakistan.

Cenozoic

Eocene Nummulites

Coin-shaped larger foraminifera — Nummulites, Assilina, Alveolina — are so abundant they build entire limestones across the Eocene of Pakistan.

Precambrian

The earliest life — stromatolites

Layered microbial structures (stromatolites) and algal mats in the Precambrian record the oldest traces of life preserved in Pakistan’s rocks.

Browse by fossil group

Mammals

11

Reptiles, fish & other vertebrates

9

Foraminifera

56

Aghil Limestone

Triassic–Jurassic
ForaminiferaAlgae

Amb Formation

Permian
Brachiopods (Productus)CrinoidsBryozoansForaminifera

Ashtigar formation

Jurassic
Trigonia-type bivalvesbrachiopodscrinoidsforaminiferanannofossils

Borom Formation

Triassic
ConodontsForaminifera

Darkot Group

Carboniferous–Permian
bryozoansforaminiferabrachiopodscrinoidscoralsgastropods

Domanda Formation

Paleogene
Nummulites beaumontiNummulites subbeaumontiAlveolina ellipticaDictyoconoides cooki

Drazinda Formation

Paleogene
foraminiferabivalvesbryozoansechinoids

Drug Formation

Paleogene
Walking whales (Ambulocetus)BasilosauridsLarger foraminifera

Dungan Formation

Paleogene
larger foraminiferacorals

Gaj Formation

Neogene
ForaminiferaMolluscsMarine vertebrates

Goru Formation

Cretaceous
ForaminiferaAmmonitesBivalves

Gurguri Formation

Paleogene
ForaminiferaMollusks

Habib Rahi Formation

Paleogene
Larger foraminifera (Nummulites, Assilina)GastropodsEchinoids

Hangu Formation

Paleogene
Miscellanea miscellaLockhartia haimeiLockhartia conditiLepidocyclina punjabensisOperculina canaliferaDaviesina longhami

Hoshab Formation

Paleogene–Neogene
Planktonic foraminiferaTrace fossils

Khadro Formation

Paleogene
oystersreptile bonesforaminifera

Khyber limestone

Carboniferous–Permian
brachiopodsgastropodspelecypodsammonoidsbryozoansfusulinids

Kingriali Formation

Triassic
Megalodont bivalvesGastropodsForaminifera

Kirthar Formation

Paleogene
nummuliteslarger foraminifera

Lakhra Formation

Paleogene
foraminiferacoralsmolluscs

Laki Formation

Paleogene
foraminiferagastropodsbivalvesechinoidsalgae

Lockhart Limestone

Paleogene
Operculina subsalsaMiscellanea miscellaMiscellanea stampiLockhartia haimeiLockhartia newboldiLepidocyclina punjabensisDiscocyclina ranikotensis

Loralai Formation

Jurassic
AmmonitesBelemnitesBivalvesForaminifera

Margala Hill Limestone

Paleogene
Nummulites mamillatusNummulites atacicusAssilina spinosaAssilina laminosaAssilina granulosaAssilina exponensLockhartia tipperiLockhartia conditiAlveolinaOperculinaMiliolidsGastropodsEchinoids

Mughal Kot Formation

Cretaceous
AmmonitesForaminiferaBivalves

Nammal Formation

Paleogene
Planktonic foraminiferaNannofossils

Nari Formation

Paleogene
ForaminiferaMolluscsShark teeth

Nisai Limestone

Cretaceous–Paleogene
Miscellanea miscellaOther larger foraminiferaAlgae

Ormara Formation

Neogene
MollusksEchinoidsForaminifera

Panjgur Formation

Paleogene–Neogene
ForaminiferaTrace fossils

Panoba Formation

Paleogene
Globorotalia aequaGloborotalia quadrataAssilina pustulosaOrbitolites complanatusNummulites sp.

Parh Group

Cretaceous
Planktic foraminiferaAmmonites

Parh Limestone

Cretaceous
planktonic foraminifera (Globotruncana spp.)

Parkini Formation

Neogene
Benthic foraminiferaMollusks

Patala Formation

Paleogene
Planktonic foraminiferaCalcareous nannofossilsDinoflagellates

Pirkoh Formation

Paleogene
foraminiferagastropodsbivalvesechinoids

Ranikot Formation

Paleogene
Larger foraminiferaMollusksPlant fossils

Ranikot Group

Paleogene
Larger foraminiferaGastropodsPlant fossils in upper part

Reshit Formation

Jurassic
foraminiferaostracodscrinoidscoralsechinoidsbrachiopodsammonites

Reshun Formation

Cretaceous
MegalodonCoralsForaminifera

Saindak Formation

Paleogene
AssilinaFasciolitesEchinolampasGastropods (Velates)

Sakesar Formation

Paleogene
Nummulites mamillatusNummulites atacicusAssilina spinosaAssilina granulosaAssilina laminosaAlveolinaLockhartia tipperiLockhartia conditiDiscocyclinaGastropodsEchinoids

Samana Suk Formation

Jurassic
CoralsBrachiopodsEchinoidsForaminiferaAlgae

Sangiali Formation

Paleogene
Larger foraminiferaGastropods

Sembar Formation

Cretaceous
AmmonitesBelemnitesForaminifera

Shaheed Ghat Formation

Paleogene
nummulitesgastropodsbivalves

Shaksgam formation

Permian
Parafusulina sp.Paraschwagerina sp.Neoschwagerina sp.

Shekhan Formation

Paleogene
Orbitolites complanatusAlveolina oblongaAlveolina vredenburgiAssilina daviesiAssilina laminosaAssilina dandoticaNummulites atacicusCoralsGastropodsEchinoids

Shinawari Formation

Jurassic
AmmonitesBivalvesForaminifera

Siahan Formation

Paleogene
Deep water foraminiferaTrace fossils

Sinjrani Volcanic Group

Cretaceous
AlgaeForaminiferaCorals (in limestone interbeds)

Tekri formation

Jurassic
spongesgastropodsostreidsforaminifera

Wargal Limestone

Permian
Productid brachiopodsFusulinid foraminiferaCoralsGastropodsCephalopods

Yashkuk formation

Jurassic
benthic foraminiferacalcareous algaenannofossilsostracods

Yasin group

Cretaceous
Orbitolinarudists (Hippurites)

Zaluch Group

Permian
brachiopods (productids)fusulinidsbryozoa

Molluscs

43

Ashtigar formation

Jurassic
Trigonia-type bivalvesbrachiopodscrinoidsforaminiferanannofossils

Darkot Group

Carboniferous–Permian
bryozoansforaminiferabrachiopodscrinoidscoralsgastropods

Datta Formation

Jurassic
Plant fossilsCoal tracesFreshwater bivalves

Drazinda Formation

Paleogene
foraminiferabivalvesbryozoansechinoids

Gaj Formation

Neogene
ForaminiferaMolluscsMarine vertebrates

Goru Formation

Cretaceous
ForaminiferaAmmonitesBivalves

Gurguri Formation

Paleogene
ForaminiferaMollusks

Habib Rahi Formation

Paleogene
Larger foraminifera (Nummulites, Assilina)GastropodsEchinoids

Humai Formation

Cretaceous
Hippurites (rudist bivalves)OrbitoidesLepidorbitoidesGastropods

Jiwani Formation

Quaternary
MollusksCorals

Jutana Formation

Cambrian
Trilobites (Redlichia noetlingi)Brachiopods (Lingulella fuchsia, Botsfordia granulata)Gastropods

Kamlial Formation

Neogene
Mammal fossilsFreshwater gastropods

Khadro Formation

Paleogene
oystersreptile bonesforaminifera

Khyber limestone

Carboniferous–Permian
brachiopodsgastropodspelecypodsammonoidsbryozoansfusulinids

Kingriali Formation

Triassic
Megalodont bivalvesGastropodsForaminifera

Lakhra Formation

Paleogene
foraminiferacoralsmolluscs

Laki Formation

Paleogene
foraminiferagastropodsbivalvesechinoidsalgae

Loralai Formation

Jurassic
AmmonitesBelemnitesBivalvesForaminifera

Lun Shale

Triassic
Ammonoids (rare)Bivalves

Margala Hill Limestone

Paleogene
Nummulites mamillatusNummulites atacicusAssilina spinosaAssilina laminosaAssilina granulosaAssilina exponensLockhartia tipperiLockhartia conditiAlveolinaOperculinaMiliolidsGastropodsEchinoids

Mianwali Formation

Triassic
Claraia bivalvesOphiceras ammonoidsConodontsFish remains

Mughal Kot Formation

Cretaceous
AmmonitesForaminiferaBivalves

Murree Formation

Neogene
Mammal bonesFreshwater molluscsPlant fossils

Musakhel group

Triassic
ammonoids (Ceratites)bivalves

Nari Formation

Paleogene
ForaminiferaMolluscsShark teeth

Nowshera Formation

Devonian
coralsstromatoporoidscephalopodsgastropodsbrachiopodsconodonts

Ormara Formation

Neogene
MollusksEchinoidsForaminifera

Pab Sandstone

Cretaceous
BivalvesGastropodsTrace fossils

Panjpir Formation

Ordovician–Silurian
crinoidspelecypodscephalopodsnautiloidsconodonts

Parkini Formation

Neogene
Benthic foraminiferaMollusks

Pirkoh Formation

Paleogene
foraminiferagastropodsbivalvesechinoids

Ranikot Formation

Paleogene
Larger foraminiferaMollusksPlant fossils

Ranikot Group

Paleogene
Larger foraminiferaGastropodsPlant fossils in upper part

Saindak Formation

Paleogene
AssilinaFasciolitesEchinolampasGastropods (Velates)

Sakesar Formation

Paleogene
Nummulites mamillatusNummulites atacicusAssilina spinosaAssilina granulosaAssilina laminosaAlveolinaLockhartia tipperiLockhartia conditiDiscocyclinaGastropodsEchinoids

Sangiali Formation

Paleogene
Larger foraminiferaGastropods

Shaheed Ghat Formation

Paleogene
nummulitesgastropodsbivalves

Shekhan Formation

Paleogene
Orbitolites complanatusAlveolina oblongaAlveolina vredenburgiAssilina daviesiAssilina laminosaAssilina dandoticaNummulites atacicusCoralsGastropodsEchinoids

Shinawari Formation

Jurassic
AmmonitesBivalvesForaminifera

Surghar Group

Jurassic
ammonites (Bouleiceras)brachiopodsbivalves

Tekri formation

Jurassic
spongesgastropodsostreidsforaminifera

Toi Formation

Paleogene
freshwater bivalvesgastropodsplant remains

Wargal Limestone

Permian
Productid brachiopodsFusulinid foraminiferaCoralsGastropodsCephalopods

Ammonites & cephalopods

18

Corals

18

Brachiopods

22

Ali Masjid formation

Devonian
brachiopodscorals

Amb Formation

Permian
Brachiopods (Productus)CrinoidsBryozoansForaminifera

Ashtigar formation

Jurassic
Trigonia-type bivalvesbrachiopodscrinoidsforaminiferanannofossils

Baroghil group

Ordovician–Silurian
acritarchsconodontsbrachiopods

Chalt formation

Carboniferous–Permian
bryozoansFenestellaproductidscorals

Chhidru Formation

Permian
Last Paleozoic brachiopodsAmmonoidsDiminished fauna near top

Chidru Formation

Permian
Last Paleozoic brachiopodsAmmonoidsDiminished fauna near top

Dandot Formation

Permian
BrachiopodsBryozoans

Darkot Group

Carboniferous–Permian
bryozoansforaminiferabrachiopodscrinoidscoralsgastropods

Gircha formation

Permian
Trigonotreta stokesiSpirelytha petaliformisPunctospirifer afghanusEurydesma sp.

Jutana Formation

Cambrian
Trilobites (Redlichia noetlingi)Brachiopods (Lingulella fuchsia, Botsfordia granulata)Gastropods

Khyber limestone

Carboniferous–Permian
brachiopodsgastropodspelecypodsammonoidsbryozoansfusulinids

Kussak Formation

Cambrian
Trilobites (Redlichia noetlingi)Brachiopods (Neobolus warthi, Lingulella)Hyolithes wynnei

Nowshera Formation

Devonian
coralsstromatoporoidscephalopodsgastropodsbrachiopodsconodonts

Reshit Formation

Jurassic
foraminiferaostracodscrinoidscoralsechinoidsbrachiopodsammonites

Samana Suk Formation

Jurassic
CoralsBrachiopodsEchinoidsForaminiferaAlgae

Sardhi Formation

Permian
BrachiopodsBryozoansCrinoids

Shogram Formation

Devonian
rugose coralsbrachiopodsconodonts

Surghar Group

Jurassic
ammonites (Bouleiceras)brachiopodsbivalves

Warcha Formation

Permian
BrachiopodsBryozoans

Wargal Limestone

Permian
Productid brachiopodsFusulinid foraminiferaCoralsGastropodsCephalopods

Zaluch Group

Permian
brachiopods (productids)fusulinidsbryozoa

Echinoderms

15

Amb Formation

Permian
Brachiopods (Productus)CrinoidsBryozoansForaminifera

Ashtigar formation

Jurassic
Trigonia-type bivalvesbrachiopodscrinoidsforaminiferanannofossils

Darkot Group

Carboniferous–Permian
bryozoansforaminiferabrachiopodscrinoidscoralsgastropods

Drazinda Formation

Paleogene
foraminiferabivalvesbryozoansechinoids

Habib Rahi Formation

Paleogene
Larger foraminifera (Nummulites, Assilina)GastropodsEchinoids

Laki Formation

Paleogene
foraminiferagastropodsbivalvesechinoidsalgae

Margala Hill Limestone

Paleogene
Nummulites mamillatusNummulites atacicusAssilina spinosaAssilina laminosaAssilina granulosaAssilina exponensLockhartia tipperiLockhartia conditiAlveolinaOperculinaMiliolidsGastropodsEchinoids

Ormara Formation

Neogene
MollusksEchinoidsForaminifera

Panjpir Formation

Ordovician–Silurian
crinoidspelecypodscephalopodsnautiloidsconodonts

Pirkoh Formation

Paleogene
foraminiferagastropodsbivalvesechinoids

Reshit Formation

Jurassic
foraminiferaostracodscrinoidscoralsechinoidsbrachiopodsammonites

Sakesar Formation

Paleogene
Nummulites mamillatusNummulites atacicusAssilina spinosaAssilina granulosaAssilina laminosaAlveolinaLockhartia tipperiLockhartia conditiDiscocyclinaGastropodsEchinoids

Samana Suk Formation

Jurassic
CoralsBrachiopodsEchinoidsForaminiferaAlgae

Sardhi Formation

Permian
BrachiopodsBryozoansCrinoids

Shekhan Formation

Paleogene
Orbitolites complanatusAlveolina oblongaAlveolina vredenburgiAssilina daviesiAssilina laminosaAssilina dandoticaNummulites atacicusCoralsGastropodsEchinoids

Bryozoans

9

Trilobites

5

Plants

10

Stromatolites & algae

9

Trace fossils

9

Conodonts & ostracods

11

Fossil groupings are derived from each unit’s recorded fossil note and are a guide for browsing, not a formal palaeontological classification. Source: GSP Memoir Vol. 24 and the wider literature.