The remains of a dinosaur that were discovered in Queensland in 2007 have recently been identified as a new species of dinosaur, named Australotitan cooperensis, and have been identified as the largest dinosaur in Australia. The Queensland Museum and the Eromanga Natural History Museum jointly announced the certification in a special global announcement. The New Species' name, Australotitan, means "Titan of the South," and cooperensis represents Cooper, the region where the fossil was found.
In 2007, the dinosaur remains were first discovered in Elomanga, Queensland. At the beginning of its discovery, it was nicknamed "Cooper", named after Cooper Creek in Elomenga, where it was discovered. Scientists have carefully calculated that this dinosaur lived about 95-98 million years ago, and its hips were 5-6.5 meters high and 25-30 meters long, equivalent to the size of a basketball court and as tall as two floors.
Australotitan Cooperensis
Image copyright: Eromanga Natural History Museum
Back in 2004, the son of paleontologist Robyn Mackenzie, the current owner of the Ehrmanga Museum of Natural History, discovered a "rock" on his home estate that was later identified as a dinosaur fossil. This discovery prompted the Robins to establish the Ehromenga Museum of Natural History. In the more than 10 years that followed, more dinosaur fossils were excavated in Ehromenga, including the remains of dinosaurs discovered in 2007 and now recognized as a new species of dinosaurs.
Scientists have conducted years of research and determined that this Titanosaurus is the largest dinosaur in Australia to date. Mr Robin said: "This is the first Australian dinosaur to be able to join the large dinosaur elite. Prior to this, most of these dinosaurs were found in South America. The scientific naming of this new dinosaur species formalizes our years of research. ”
"This new discovery of this species opens up a whole new world and is a particularly meaningful journey not only for my family, but for Australia as a whole." Archaeological tourism is huge around the world and we look forward to seeing more international visitors to Queensland to explore dinosaur sites when the borders reopen in the future. ”
The fossil remains of the Southern Titans are housed in the Natural History Museum of Elomanga, inland Queensland, for public viewing and further research by researchers.
Background information
Humans have always been fascinated by extinct dinosaurs, especially children. Learning about these prehistoric behemoths and how they once roamed the planet is an exciting educational experience for people of all ages. Queensland is fortunate to have a number of dinosaur sites, museums, whether it's the Queensland Museum in Brisbane or the Queensland Outback, there are plenty of places to explore dinosaur footprints and remains, just a few of them:
1. Eromanga Natural History Museum. Located inland Queensland, as mentioned earlier, the museum houses fossils from a new species of dinosaur, Australia's largest dinosaur. Visitors can enjoy an interactive experience with a guide, learning about fossils, participating in excavations and more.
2. Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, Winton. Located in Winton, Queensland, the non-profit museum is the world's largest dinosaur fossil museum, and it will take at least a full day to explore, including the Australian Century Dinosaur Laboratory, the Collections Room, dinosaur canyon exploration and more. The museum also offers a week-long deep dinosaur discovery tour.
Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum
3. Queensland Museum, Brisbane. Located in Brisbane, the Queensland Museum's 'Lost Creatures' gallery on the second floor of the Queensland Museum houses some of Queensland's ancient 'residents'. Reconstructions, fossils, 3D models and touchscreen displays tell the story of these prehistoric giants and the challenges they endured during the world's mass extinction.
4. Riversleigh World Heritage Site, Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park. Located in the southern section of Budjamura (Lawn Hill) National Park in north-west Queensland, the Riversley Fossil Site was honoured to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. There is a wealth of prehistoric ruins on display here, and visitors will see many mammalian and reptile fossils for themselves.
Riversleigh World Heritage Site
5. Dinosaur Stampede National Monument (Winton). The site is the only evidence of the world's dinosaur stampede, which took place on its display, Lark Quarry Conservation Park in Winton. The site was the inspiration for Steven Spielberg's famous film Jurassic Park.
Dinosaur Stampede National Monument - Lark Quarry
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