Australovenator is an extinct genus of derived theropod dinosaur from the from the Late Albian of the Cretaceous of Australia.[1] belonging to the Megaraptora. It was described in the online journal PLoS ONE in 2009. It is known from partial cranial and postcranial remains.
The species is named in 2009 by the Australian palaeontologist and museum curator Scott Hocknull. The generic name means "southern hunter" in Latin, a reference to where Australia and the fact that it is a theropod. The specific epithet refers to the fossil formation it was discovered in, the Winton Formation. The species was informally named "Banjo" by Banjo Paterson, author of the Australian folk song Waltzing Matilda.
Description and history[]
Silhouette with known skeletal elements.
Australovenator is based on AODL 604, a partial skeleton including a left dentary, teeth, partial forelimbs and hindlimbs, a partial right ilium, ribs, and gastralia. Australovenator was described in 2009 by Dr. Scott Hocknull and colleagues. The type species is A. wintonensis, in reference to nearby Winton. A phylogenetic analysis found Australovenator to be an allosauroid carnosaurian, with similarities to Fukuiraptor and carcharodontosaurids. The ankles of Australovenator and Fukuiraptor are similar to the Australian talus bone known as Allosaurus sp.[2]
Although the holotype is fragmentary, it represents the most complete theropod from Austrlia to date. It appears to be similar in morphology to Allosaurus and Fukuiraptor, as well as certain features on the charcharodontosaurid Neovenator. According to a cladistic analysis, Australovenator a relatively derived member of the Allosauroidea.
Description[]
Size of Australovenator compared to a human
Australovenator was a medium-sized allosauroid.[2] According to Dr. Hocknull, it was 2 meters (6.6 ft) tall at the hip and 6 meters (20 ft) long. Because it was a lightweight predator, he coined it as the "cheetah of its time".[3]
Classification[]
Dentary
A phylogenetic analysis found Australovenator to be an allosauroid carnosaurian, with similarities to Fukuiraptor and carcharodontosaurids. In the initial analysis, it was shown to be the sister taxon of the Carcharodontosauridae.[4] More detailed studies found that it formed a clade with several other carcharodontosaurid-like allosaurs, the Neovenatoridae.[5] Recent phylogenetic analysis suggests Australovenator is a tyrannosauroid, like with all other megaraptorans.[6] A phylogenetic analysis in 2016 focusing on the new neovenatorid Gualicho found that Australovenator and other megaraptorids were either allosauroids or basal coelurosaurs as opposed to being tyrannosauroids.[7]
The ankles of Australovenator and Fukuiraptor are similar to the Australian talus bone known as NMVP 150070 that had previously been identified as belonging to Allosaurus sp., and this bone likely represents Australovenator or a close relative of it.[4][8] Alternatively, this bone could belong to an abelisaur.[9]
Paleobiology[]
Bones of the left hand
AODL 604 was found about 60 kilometers (37 mi) northwest of Winton, near Elderslie Station. It was recovered from the lower part of the Winton Formation, dated to the latest Albian. AODL 604 was found in a clay layer between sandstone layers, interpreted as an oxbow lake deposit. Also found at the site were the type specimen of the sauropod Diamantinasaurus, bivalves, fish, turtles, crocodilians, and plant fossils. The Winton Formation had a faunal assemblage including bivalves, gastropods, insects, the lungfish Metaceratodus, turtles, the crocodilian Isisfordia, pterosaurs, and several types of dinosaurs, such as the sauropods Diamantinasaurus and Wintonotitan, and unnamed ankylosaurians and hypsilophodonts. Plants known from the formation include ferns, ginkgoes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms.[2] Like other carnosaurians, Australovenator would have been a bipedal carnivore.[10]
Paleoecology[]
Most likely the apex predator of its ecosystem, Australovenator lived in Australia during the Late Cretaceous period, around 95 million years ago. It lived alongside several types of dinosaurs such as Muttaburrasaurus, Minmi, and other species of ornithopods, ankylosaurs, and a few species of sauropods (i.e. Austrosaurus, Diamantinasaurus, Savannasaurus, and Wintonotitan) as well as various crocodilians, fish and reptiles along with brachyopoid temnospondyl amphibian Koolasuchus. Its diet consisted of small and medium-sized animals, although some experts believe it may have hunted larger dinosaurs by working in packs.
Appearance in other media[]
Jurassic Park[]
- Australovenator appeared in the video game Jurassic World Evolution 2.
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Read more Australovenator on Jurassic Park Wiki |
References[]
- ↑ Hocknull SA, White MA, Tischler TR, Cook AG, Calleja ND, et al. 2009. New Mid-Cretaceous (Latest Albian) Dinosaurs from Winton, Queensland, Australia. PLoS ONE 4(7): e6190, Template:DOI
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Template:Cite journal
- ↑ Scientists discover 3 new Aussie dinosaurs. ABC News. July 3, 2009
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Template:Cite journal
- ↑ Template:Cite journal
- ↑ Template:Cite journal
- ↑ Template:Cite journal
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- ↑ Template:Cite book