All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
3 07, 2017

Titanosaur “Judy” from the Outback!

By |2023-07-29T15:33:27+01:00July 3rd, 2017|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans|0 Comments

Research Team Excavate Aussie Titanosaur

The fossilised remains of what might turn out to be one of the most complete dinosaur specimens ever found in Australia are currently being excavated near the town of Winton (Queensland, Australia).  Although much of the field work has yet to be completed, palaeontologists are confident that around twenty-five percent of the animal’s entire skeleton may be present.  If this is the case, then these fossils, representing a single, individual titanosaur, may help scientists to better understand the megafauna of Gondwana during the early Late Cretaceous.

A Scale Drawing Showing “Cooper” Australia’s Largest Titanosaur Fossil Discovery to Date

A scale drawing of an Australian Titanosaur.

Scale drawing of “Cooper”.

Picture credit: Dr Scott Hocknell

Winton – The Unofficial Dinosaur Capital of Australia

The discovery was made back in 2015, when a local rancher, Bob Elliott noticed fragments of dinosaur bone on the surface of one of his livestock paddocks.  Over the last few field seasons, volunteers, guided by the dig team’s leader Dr Stephen Poropat of Swinburne University (Melbourne), have slowly and steadily been uncovering the treasure trove of dinosaur fossil material.  Winton, named after, Winton, a suburb of Bournemouth (Dorset, southern England), is regarded as the unofficial dinosaur capital of Australia as numerous dinosaur fossils have been found.

To date, the team has found four peg-like teeth, at least ten cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, pelvic material and elements from the shoulder and limbs.

Commenting upon the importance of this dig site in the context of Australian dinosaurs, Dr Poropat stated:

“This just might be the most complete sauropod ever found in Australia.  We have probably more than twenty-five percent of the skeleton, which is phenomenal.”

Palaeontologists and Volunteers Working at the Dig Site

Excavating an Australian titanosaur.

A group of field workers at the “Judy” dig site.

Picture credit: Swinburne University of Technology

An Australian Titanosaur Nicknamed “Judy”

The fossil material has been nick-named “Judy”, in honour of Judy Elliott, one of the co-founders of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum in Winton.  Although a number of titanosaurs (a type of sauropod), have already been described from fossils found in this region, Dr Poropat believes that this particular specimen will give scientists a better understanding of Australia’s Late Cretaceous long-necked dinosaurs.

The postdoctoral fellow added:

“We will be able to understand many aspects of this sauropod’s anatomy, simply because we have so much of its skeleton.  By studying its teeth and neck in particular, we might be able to shed light on how it fed.”

Potential Cololites

The area where the chest and hips are located at the quarry has yet to be fully excavated.  The remains of this dinosaur’s last meal might be preserved inside the body cavity (cololites).  This would provide direct evidence as to the types of plant material this giant herbivore consumed.  If the researchers are able to locate cololites, this would be the first time gut contents in an Australian titanosaur would have been discovered.

An Aerial View of the Dinosaur Dig Site with Accompanying Schematic Drawing

The dig site with a schematic drawing showing the layout of the fossil bones.

Photograph of the dig site with schematic drawing.

Picture credit: Swinburne University of Technology

Studying an Australian Titanosaur

Dr Poropat explained that these fossils may lead to more questions:

“We still have a lot to learn about many aspects of sauropod behaviour, physiology and in the case of Australia’s sauropods in particular their skeletal anatomy.”

This herbivorous dinosaur was not fully grown when it perished (as indicated by the unfused shoulder girdles), but at around twelve metres in length it was a sizeable animal none-the-less.  The team hope to return to the dig site next month to continue the excavation.  As for when “Judy” roamed, the rocks in this arid part of Australia are estimated to be around ninety-five million years old (Cenomanian faunal stage of the early Late Cretaceous).

To read an article on the naming of an Australian titanosaur: The Naming of a Titanosaur.

For an article discussing more dinosaur finds from Queensland: Time for Some More Aussie Dinosaurs.

More Australian dinosaurs discovered (2009 article): A Trio of Australian Dinosaurs.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

3 07, 2017

Dinosaurs of China Exhibition Great for Schools

By |2023-07-29T15:22:08+01:00July 3rd, 2017|General Teaching|Comments Off on Dinosaurs of China Exhibition Great for Schools

Dinosaurs of China – A Great Learning Experience

Teachers and home educationalists looking for an inspiring school visit to help support their science teaching programmes should check out the amazing “Dinosaurs of China” exhibition being held at Wollaton Hall (Nottinghamshire).  This amazing learning experience provides pupils with an opportunity to explore the evolutionary relationship between parts of the Dinosauria and living birds.  The education team at the spectacular 16th century, Elizabethan country house have developed a number of facilitated sessions which dove-tail into various aspects of the English national curriculum for science.  On the subject of doves, students will be able to learn about amazing fossils that demonstrate just how closely related birds are to dinosaurs.

Comparing a Skeleton of an Ostrich from the Nottingham Natural History Museum Collection to an Early Member of the Tyrannosaur Family (Guanlong)

Ostrich skeleton compared to Guanlong dinosaur skeleton.

The skeleton of an extant ostrich compared to a theropod dinosaur (Guanlong). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Mary Anning, Charles Darwin, Huxley and Seeley

The skilfully laid out exhibition tells a story “Ground Shakers to Feathered Flyers” and provides access to huge dinosaurs as well as some of the most significant fossils ever found that demonstrate the evolutionary process, highlighting how dinosaurs evolved and changed over time.  The well-written, presentation panels provide plenty of helpful information to support school activities and the palaeontologists behind the exhibition have planned a “Dinosaurs of China” trail that helps visitors to understand the observations that helped to shape some of the theories about the dinosaurs, as championed by such famous scientists as Thomas Huxley and Henry Govier Seeley.

Exploring the History of Dinosaurs and What Their Fossils Can Tell Us About the Living Animals

Lufengosaurus huenei exhibit.

Lufengosaurus – the first Chinese dinosaur to be scientifically described.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

For dinosaur and prehistoric animal figures: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models.

Programmes for KS1 to KS4

The education team have created helpful teaching sessions centred around Darwinism and natural selection along with other sessions that utilise the extensive fossil collection of the Nottingham Natural History Museum and demonstrate how fossils form and how they have shaped our understanding of the natural world.  This is a great way to develop any school lesson plans that involve learning about Mary Anning.

Feathered Dinosaur Fossils are on Display

Sinosauropteryx fossil material.

Sinosauropteryx on display – the first feathered dinosaur described. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To enquire about Everything Dinosaur: Email Everything Dinosaur.

A spokesperson from the Everything Dinosaur teaching team stated:

“This exhibition is an opportunity for schools and educationalists to see the fossil evidence that links parts of the Dinosauria to modern-day birds.  Concepts taught in the classroom can be brought to life and the scientific principles behind evolution and natural selection are strikingly illustrated.  Dinosaurs of China represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for schools to help enrich their science teaching.  This is one exhibition that is not to be missed!”

Lakeside Arts Centre – Hands-on Activities

Several public, free-access events have been organised at the nearby Lakeside Arts Centre.  Scientific illustration plays an important role in fossil interpretation and a number of activities such as free exhibitions, drop in activities and palaeoart displays will be running throughout the duration of “Dinosaurs of China”.  Teachers visiting Lakeside Arts can pick up plenty of inspirational ideas to help support their teaching programmes.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

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