Austrosaurus

Aw-stro-sore-us.
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Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Name

Austrosaurus (Southern lizard).

Phonetic

Aw-stro-sore-us.

Named By

Heber Longman - 1933.

Classification

Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Titanosauria.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

A. mckillopi

Size

Estimated 15 meters long.

Known locations

Australia, Queensland, Winton Formation.

Time Period

Albian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Several specimens of post cranial remains.

In Depth

       As with other Australian sauropods such as Wintonotitan and Diamantinasaurus, the skull and most of the vertebrae are unknown. What can be learned from the available material is that Austrosaurus had a fairly level back between its shoulders and hips with what appears to be only twenty centimetres height difference between the two.

       Study of the available vertebra of Austrosaurus appear very primitive in that they are not hollow or display any of the associated weight saving features that had already been developed in earlier sauropods as exhibited in Rhoetosaurus, suggesting that Austrosaurus was a late surviving primitive form.

Further Reading

– A new dinosaur from the Queensland Cretaceous – Heber A. Longman – 1933.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT