Austrosaurus

Name: Austrosaurus (Southern lizard).
Phonetic: Aw-stro-sore-us.
Named By: Heber Longman - 1933.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Titanosauria.
Species: A. mckillopi (type).
Type: Herbivore.
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.

       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.

More sauropods