Dinosaurs Largest Ornithopod
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Leaellynasaura amicagraphica (1989) age: Early Cretaceous REGION: VIC SIZE: 1.5m A small ornithopod, this plant-eater lived in an Australia that was further south and partly within the Antarctic Circle. A well-preserved skull reveals it had a large brain and eyes, which helped it keep watch for predators as s it foraged for plants in the dark of the Antarctic winter. Muttaburrasaurus Dinosaur New research by Dr Matt Herne shows Leaellynasaura (‘lee-allin-ah-sore-ah’) had an extremely long tail. langdoni (1981) of Drs Tom Rich and Patricia Vickers-Rich named Australia the species after their daughter, Leaellyn. AGE: Early Cretaceous REGION: QLD/NSW SIZE: 8–9m Muttaburrasaurus (‘muta-burra-sore-rus’) is our A guide to the dinosaurs largest ornithopod. With one partial skeleton and a second skull from QLD and several teeth from Down Under, which ranged NSW, this powerful herbivore could rear-up on Austrosaurus its back legs to reach high foliage and intimidate predators, though it sometimes moved on four (1933) from ferocious carnivores to mckillopi legs too. It had an unusual bulge on its snout, which may have contained an inflatable air sac. herbivorous behemoths. age: Early Cretaceous REGION: QLD SIZE: 15–20m Discovered in north-central Queensland 80 ILLUSTRATIONS BY LIDA XING years ago, Austrosaurus (‘aus-tro-sore-us’) was our first known Cretaceous sauropod. This long-necked species was able to reach high foliage. Austrosaurus means ‘southern lizard’. Timimus hermani (1994) age: Early Cretaceous REGION: VIC SIZE: 3-5m The femur of Timimus (‘tim-my-mus’) is one of many specimens found at Dinosaur Cove by Drs Tom Rich and Patricia Vickers-Rich. The southern location – then within the Antarctic Circle – was cold and dark in winter, and Timimus may have hibernated. It is thought to be a distant relative of T. rex. It was named after Tom and Patricia’s Australovenator son, Tim, and also in honour of environmentalist and palaeontologist Professor Tim Flannery. wintonensis (2009) AGE: Late Cretaceous REGION: QLD SIZE: 6m This speedy theropod had huge claws on its hands dinosaurs DOMINATED the planet from the start of the and slender-toed feet, and has been described as Triassic, 230 million years ago, until the Late Cretaceous, the cheetah of Cretaceous Australia. Australove- 66 million years ago, when a huge asteroid struck the Earth. Although most nator (‘aus-tral-low-ven-ah-tor’) is represented by more complete fossils than any of our other dinosaurs became extinct, some persisted as birds, which number 10,000 living carnivorous dinosaurs. It is nicknamed Banjo after species. From wetlands to forests, and icecaps to deserts, dinosaurs proliferated the famous Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson. Australovenator means ‘southern hunter’. across the world throughout the Mesozoic Era. Australia’s species are unique, but our fossil record is relatively meagre. Our ancient and flat landscape makes fossils hard to find, and leaves them exposed to the elements. However, the potential for future discoveries, together with the relative lack of knowledge about Australia’s dinosaurs, makes it an exciting place for palaeontologists. Walgettosuchus Diamantinasaurus Qantassaurus woodwardi (1932) matildae (2009) intrepidus (1999) age: Early Cretaceous REGION: NSW SIZE: 1.5–2m AGE: Late Cretaceous REGION: QLD SIZE: 15m Age: Early Cretaceous REGION: VIC SIZE: 1.5m (1980) In 1909 a single opalised vertebra was bought by Kakuru kujani Nicknamed ‘Matilda’ after Banjo Paterson’s the British Museum. In 1932 it was given the name bush ballad, this stocky-legged, broad- Named after Australia’s national age: Early Cretaceous REGION: SA SIZE: 2m Walgettosuchus (‘wal-get-toe-suke-us’), after hipped dinosaur is one of the most complete carrier, Quantassaurus (‘kwant-uh- Walgett, the NSW town near to where it was Australian sauropods. Diamantinasaurus sore-us’) was about the size of a This small, bird-like carnivore has a unique story of found, and suchus, which means crocodile. This (‘die-ah-man-teen-ah-sore-us’) was a robust kangaroo. Australia was further discovery. Fragments of its leg bones were fos- was odd because scientists knew then that it plant-eater with a long neck and tail. Palae- south and a lot colder 125 million silised in opal in the Bulldog Shale of Andamooka, belonged to a predatory dinosaur, but beyond ontologists discovered Matilda near Winton years ago. This herbivore likely SA. Palaeontologist Neville Pledge discovered them that we can only speculate as to its appearance. beside the remains of Australovenator. survived where other dinosaurs in a gem shop in 1973. They were auctioned off in Atlascopcosaurus couldn’t, by using its muscular 1980 and presumed lost, but later acquired by the loadsi (1989) cheeks and grinding teeth to eat South Australian Museum. Kakuru (‘ka-koo-roo’) is a wide range of low-growing the Kujani Aboriginal word for Rainbow Serpent. Fulgurotherium age: Early Cretaceous REGION: VIC SIZE: 2–3m vegetation. australe (1932) Only the unique jaw and teeth of this dinosaur have been discovered, but they were enough to AGE: Early Cretaceous REGION: NSW SIZE: 1.5m reveal that it was a member of the ornithopods, a group of bipedal herbivores. Atlascopcosaurus Fulgurotherium (‘full-ger-o-theer-ee-um’) means (‘at-lass-cop-coe-sore-us’) is one of the few dino- ‘lightning beast’. When it was described in 1932, saurs to be named after a corporation; the mining it was thought to be a meat-eating theropod, but equipment manufacturer Atlas Copco sponsored scientists now think it was a herbivorous ornitho- the dig that discovered it. Although most feath- pod. This opalised thighbone was purchased from (1998) Ozraptor subotaii ered species found so far have been carnivores, a a Lightning Ridge opal miner by Museum Victoria. Serendipaceratops few finds hint that herbivores, such as Atlascopco- Age: Mid Jurassic REGION: WA SIZE: 2–3 m saurus, may have had feathery coverings too. arthurcclarkei (2003) In 1966 a shin bone was found by children near Age: Early Cretaceous REGION: VIC SIZE: 1.5–2m Geraldton. Scientists originally thought it came from a turtle, but Ozraptor (‘oz-rap-tor’) is now Palaeontologists have found only a single foreleg thought to have been a speedy meat-eater. It is our bone of Serendipaceratops (‘seh-ren-dip-uh-ser- earliest known Australian dinosaur, though not the uh-tops’). It was described as a ceratopsian, a earliest evidence. Tracks near Dinmore, QLD, from group of Northern Hemisphere herbivores includ- the Late Triassic, 220 million years ago, are older. ing Triceratops, but some experts consider it too incomplete to identify it to a specific group of her- bivores. Its discoverers Drs Tom Rich and Patricia Vickers-Rich, named it for the serendipity of the find, and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke. Minmi paravertebra (1980) Rapator ornitholestoides (1932) AGE: Early Cretaceous REGION: QLD SIZE: 2–3m Wintonotitan AGE: Early Cretaceous REGION: NSW SIZE: 7m The remains of this stocky species were found in the wattsi (2009) 1960s near Roma. Although incomplete, Minmi (‘min- Not to be confused with Velociraptor, my’) was instantly recognised as an armoured ankylosaur. age: Late Cretaceous REGION: QLD SIZE: 16–18m Rapator (‘rap-a-tor’) is known from a In 1990, scientists unearthed a near complete skeleton in foot bone found at Lightning Ridge. north-western QLD, that had skin impressions and gut The first fossil of this towering plant-eater was Comparisons with other species show contents; it is the most complete Australian initially interpreted as Austrosaurus. It was re- it was a theropod, pehaps related dinosaur fossil yet discovered. examined in the early 2000s by Drs Ralph Molnar to Australovenator. This reveals how and Steve Salisbury, and in 2009 researchers led much can sometimes be learned from by Dr Scott Hocknull declared it a unique species, a small amount of fossil evidence. making it the fourth Australian sauropod. It was nicknamed ‘Clancy’ after a character in Banjo Paterson’s Clancy of the Overflow. Rhoetosaurus brownei (1926) AGE: Mid Jurassic REGION: QLD SIZE: 16–18m Rhoetosaurus (‘ree-toe-sore-us’) was found by stockmen near Roma in 1924, and the massive species was described by palaeontologist Heber Longman. More bones were recovered in 1975, making it the most complete Australian sauropod then known, as well as revealing it to be the oldest and most primitive member of the group. Species not illustrated..