Austrosaurus

Taxobox|
name = "Austrosaurus"
status = fossil


image_width=240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
superordo = Dinosauria
ordo = Saurischia
subordo = Sauropodomorpha
infraordo = Sauropoda
unranked_familia = Titanosauria
genus = "Austrosaurus"
genus_authority = Longman, 1933
species = "A. mckillopi"
binomial = "Austrosaurus mckillopi"

"Austrosaurus" (meaning "Southern lizard") was a sauropod dinosaur from the Winton Formation, from the early Cretaceous (98-95 Million Years ago) of Central-Western Queensland in Australia.

Discovery and species

The remains were discovered by Mr. H.B. Wade on Clutha Station near Maxwelton in north Queensland in 1932, who alerted the station manager H. Mackillop, who showed his brother who sent them to the Queensland Museum. "Austrosaurus" was described by Heber Longman in 1933.

"Austrosaurus" Species
*"A. mackillopi"
*"A. sp." ("Elliot")

In 1999 on a property near Winton in central-western Queensland, Australia, grazier Dave Elliott found a sauropod femur belonging to what turned out to be the largest dinosaur discovered in Australia to that date, which was nicknamed 'Elliot'. At the Winton find, a right femur and portions of several ribs have so far been uncovered. A smaller sauropod, nicknamed 'Mary', after Dr Mary Wade, has also been uncovered. Early indications are that they are closely related to "Austrosaurus mackillopi" and either in the same or closely related genus.

On 3 May 2007, bones from the remains of two huge titanosaurs which were uncovered in 2004 near Eromanga in south-west Queensland went on display at the Queensland Museum, in Brisbane. This find was described by the ABC news service [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1912929.htm] as the largest bones now discovered to date in Australia, eclipsing 'Elliot'.

Paleobiology

Originally it was thought that the "Austrosaurus" had a tendency to spend time near or in water to relieve weight from their legs. However, this theory is now rejected and it is thought that the "Austrosaurus" preferred hard, dry land. Fossil finds suggest a height of approximately 3.9 metres at the hip and 4.1 metres at the shoulder, which would have given it an almost level back.

Classification

Initially, "Austrosaurus" was considered a cetiosaurid, like "Patagosaurus" or "Shunosaurus". However, a recent reappraisal of material by Ralph Molnar has found that it, and the newer remains of 'Eliot', are titanosaurid, as various features on the vertebrae show.

References

*

*

*Coombs WP and Molnar RE, (1981) Sauropoda (Reptilia, Saurischia) from the Cretaceous of Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 20(2):351-373

*Longman HA. 1933 A new dinosaur from the Queensland Cretaceous. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 13:133-144

External links

* [http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/features/dinosaurs/winton/index.asp Australian Sauropods]
* [http://www.australianageofdinosaurs.com Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, Winton, Qld]
*http://www.alphalink.com.au/~dannj/austro.htm
*http://www.dinoruss.com/de_4/5a6d2c8.htm