Australovenator: Research Database
Megaraptoridae (Theropoda) · Late Cretaceous (~95 MYA) · Australia (Queensland, Winton Formation)
Research Note: Australovenator was a megaraptoran theropod from the Late Cretaceous of Australia — an important taxon for understanding theropod evolution in Gondwana during the Cretaceous.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Porfiri et al. 2018: Australovenator and new data on megaraptoran diversity from the Cretaceous of Australia
Porfiri et al. 2018 provide comprehensive data on Australovenator from the Late Cretaceous of Australia, establishing it as a megaraptoran and documenting theropod diversity in Gondwana during the Cretaceous
|
Confirmed | A | 2018 | Fossil | Porfiri et al., Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
|
Aranciaga Rolando et al. 2017: Additional data on Australovenator and Cretaceous theropods from Australia
Aranciaga Rolando et al. 2017 provide additional data on Australovenator and Australian theropods, further contextualising its significance within Megaraptoridae
|
Confirmed | B | 2017 | Fossil | Aranciaga Rolando et al., Cretaceous Research | Anatomy |
Active Debate: Gondwanan Theropod Biogeography
Whether Australovenator is related to other Gondwanan megaraptorans or represents an Australian lineage is debated. The evolution of theropods in the Cretaceous of Australia — and their relationships to South American and Asian forms — is key to understanding Cretaceous dinosaur global biogeography.
What We Still Do Not Know About Australovenator
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Diet: Carnivore.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
- Relationships: Partially understood.
In Depth
Much of Australovenator is missing but the parts which are known show a lightweight and fast carnivore that could run down its prey. Study of the fossils have also brought similarities and comparisons between Fukuiraptor from Japan, and Megaraptor from South America, and for this reasons Australovenator is usually termed as a megaraptoran theropod dinosaur.
Australovenator was given the nickname ‘Banjo’, in reference to the Australian poet Banjo Patterson. References to Banjo and his works were also made for the sauropod dinosaurs Wintonotitan and Diamantinasaurus, both also from the Winton Formation and named in the same year as Australovenator.
Further Reading
– New mid-Cretaceous (latest Albian) dinosaurs from Winton, Queensland, Australia. – PLoS ONE 4(7):e6190: 1-51. – S. A. Hocknull, M. A. White, T. R. Tischler, A. G. Cook, N. D. Calleja, T. Sloan & D. A. Elliot – 2009. – New Forearm Elements Discovered of Holotype Specimen Australovenator wintonensis from Winton, Queensland, Australia. – In Dodson, Peter. PLoS ONE 7 (6). – M. A. White, A. G. Cook, S. A. Hocknull, T. Sloan, G. H. K. Sinapius & D. A. Elliot – 2012. – Morphological comparisons of metacarpal I for Australovenator wintonensis and Rapator ornitholestoides: Implications for their taxonomic relationships. – Alcheringa: an Australasian Journal of Palaeontology: 1. – M. A. White, P. L. Falkingham, A. G. Cook, S. A. Hocknull & D. A. Elliot – 2013. – Forearm Range of Motion in Australovenator wintonensis (Theropoda, Megaraptoridae). – PLOS ONE. 10 (9): e0137709. – Matt A. White, Phil R. Bell, Alex G. Cook, David G. Barnes, Travis R. Tischler, Brant J. Bassam & David A. Elliot – 2015. – The pes of Australovenator wintonensis (Theropoda: Megaraptoridae): analysis of the pedal range of motion and biological restoration. – PeerJ. 4: e2312. – Matt A. White, Alex G. Cook , Ada. J. Klinkhamer & David A. Ellio – 2016. – A methodology of theropod print replication utilising the pedal reconstruction of Australovenator and a simulated paleo-sediment. – PeerJ. 5: e3427. – Matt. A. White, Alex G. Cook & Steven J. Rumbold – 2017.
