Yurlunggur

Yur-lun-ger.
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John Stewart

Paleoecologist

John Stewart is a distinguished paleoecologist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems. With over two decades dedicated to unearthing fossils across Asia and Africa

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Name

Yurlunggur ‭(‬After the Rainbow serpent‭)‬.

Phonetic

Yur-lun-ger.

Named By

J.‭ ‬D.‭ ‬Scanlon‭ ‬-‭ ‬1992.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Squamata,‭ ‬Serpentes,‭ ‬Madtsoiidae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

Y.‭ ‬camfieldensis

Size

Up to‭ ‬6‭ ‬meters long.

Known locations

Australia,‭ ‬Northern Territory‭ ‬-‭ ‬Bullock Creek.

Time Period

Serravallian of the Miocene.

Fossil representation

Several specimens including a complete skull and mandible‭ (‬lower jaw‭)‬.

In Depth

       Along with Wonambi,‭ ‬Yurlunggur is another representative of the madtsoiid group of prehistoric snakes.‭ ‬Yurlunggur was a constrictor which means it coiled around its prey and squeezing it to death.‭ ‬One thing that makes Yurlunggur stand out from other snakes related to it‭ ‬is the fact it has perhaps one‭ ‬of the most completely preserved skulls so far recovered.‭ ‬This skull came from a fresh water area,‭ ‬suggesting that Yurlunggur may have lurked in the water while hunting its prey.

Further Reading

– A new large madtsoiid snake from the Miocene of the Northern Territory. – The Beagle, Records of the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences 9(1):49-60. – J. D. Scanlon – 1992.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT