Dinosaur found in Australia identified as new species

Dr Scott Hocknull, a palaeontologist at Queensland Museum, and Dr Robyn Mackenzie, a director of the Eromanga Natural History Museum, with a 3D reconstruction of the humerus of the Australotitan cooperensis. The gigantic dinosaur is estimated to be a
Dr Scott Hocknull, a palaeontologist at Queensland Museum, and Dr Robyn Mackenzie, a director of the Eromanga Natural History Museum, with a 3D reconstruction of the humerus of the Australotitan cooperensis. The gigantic dinosaur is estimated to be among the top five largest in the world. PHOTO: NYTIMES
The Australotitan cooperensis is estimated to have stood at 5m to 6.5m high and measured 25m to 30m in length.
The Australotitan cooperensis is estimated to have stood at 5m to 6.5m high and measured 25m to 30m in length. PHOTO: NYTIMES

BRISBANE • A gigantic dinosaur discovered in Australia's outback has been identified as a new species and recognised as one of the largest to ever roam the earth, according to palaeontologists.

The Australotitan cooperensis, part of the titanosaur family that lived about 100 million years ago, has finally been named and described 15 years after its bones were first uncovered.

It is estimated to have stood at 5m to 6.5m high and measured 25m to 30m in length, which would make it Australia's biggest dinosaur.

"Based on the preserved limb size comparisons, this new titanosaur is estimated to be in the top five largest in the world," said Dr Robyn Mackenzie, a director of the Eromanga Natural History Museum.

The fossilised bones were found on Dr Mackenzie's family farm in 2006 about 1,000km west of Brisbane in the Eromanga Basin. Nicknamed "Cooper", the skeleton first went on display to the public in 2007.

Dr Scott Hocknull, a palaeontologist at Queensland Museum, said it had been a "very long and painstaking task" to confirm the Australotitan was a new species.

The research, which relied on 3D scan models of bones to compare the dinosaur with its close relatives, was published in the peer-reviewed PeerJ journal on Monday.

Numerous other dinosaur skeletons have been found in the same area, said Dr Hocknull, adding that more work was needed as "discoveries like this are just the tip of the iceberg".

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 09, 2021, with the headline Dinosaur found in Australia identified as new species. Subscribe