Muttaburrasaurus (Muttaburrasaurus langdoni)
Muttaburrasaurus. Illustration: A Musser © Australian Museum.
Lived: 110-95 million years ago (early Cretaceous)
Size: Length (head to tail): 7m
Description: Muttaburrasaurus was a large plant-eating dinosaur that lived in the open woodlands, probably travelling in herds. Muttaburrasaurus was once thought to have been an iguanodontid (dinosaurs with sharp spikes on their thumbs).
However, scientists now think it might be best placed in its very own family. Also, Muttaburrasaurus has slicing-type teeth, and some scientists wonder whether it ate meat as well as plants. No hand bones of Muttaburasaurus have been found yet.
Fossils: Fossils of Muttaburrasaurus have been found at Muttaburra in central Queensland, and opalised fossils have been found at Lightning Ridge in northern New South Wales. Muttaburrasaurus is one of the most complete fossilised dinosaurs found in Australia - only Minmi is more complete.
Did you know?: Muttaburrasaurus has an unusual skull with a large hollow arch above its nose. It may have had an inflatable nasal apparatus that could make its calls sound louder.
