New Dinosaurs discovered in Australia!

Manuk

Just saw this in the Irish Times a minute ago... interesting new predator which used its arms as its primary weapons. Looking forward to hearing more about this find!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0703/breaking37.htm

Galvasean

Australovenator ('Australian predator'). Nice name, wonder if it was inspired by Afrovenator.

This bit particularly intrigues me:

Scott Hocknull wrote:

sheds light on the ancestry of the largest-ever meat-eating dinosaurs, the carcharodontosaurs, a group of dinosaurs that became gigantic, like Giganotosaurus

That would be very interesting to see a smaller, more agile relative of these big gys. I can't wait to see some restorations.

DoireNod

Nice post. I was always interested in dinosaurs and that growing up (who wasn't?!), but that interest waned as I went to secondary school and had this intentionally tailored curriculum forced on me!

Originally Posted by Scott Hocknull
He's Australia's answer to Velociraptor, but many times bigger and more terrifying.

:eek:

Galvasean

DoireNod wrote: »

Nice post. I was always interested in dinosaurs and that growing up (who wasn't?!), but that interest waned as I went to secondary school and had this intentionally tailored curriculum forced on me!

I know the feeling. It would be worth your while to get back into it. It's pretty good to have an interest in/knowledge of something outside the norm.

DoireNod

Galvasean wrote: »

I know the feeling. It would be worth your while to get back into it. It's pretty good to have an interest in/knowledge of something outside the norm.

Yeah, it's like anything really. I just need the motivation to actively follow up on it. Dinosaurs really capture the imagination though. When I was younger, my friend and I used to be extremely fascinated by dinosaurs. I had my mother buy me videos, magazines, toys, you name it, but then the interest just kind of subsided, which is a bit of a shame when I look back.

Galvasean

This site attached an image of what could be Australovenator.



The fossils are set to go on display in 2015.

Galvasean

A bit more rumaging... a bit more info, including a picture of all three beasties!

Top to bottom: Australovenator, Wintonotitan, Diamantinasaurus

Artwork by Scott A. Hocknull, Matt A. White, Travis R. Tischler, Alex G. Cook, Naomi D. Calleja, Trish Sloan and David A. Elliott.

More info here.

DoireNod

Galvasean wrote: »

The fossils are set to go on display in 2015.

Excuse my ignorance, but why does it take so long? I presume it has something to do with allowing for further finds and study?

Galvasean

DoireNod wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance, but why does it take so long? I presume it has something to do with allowing for further finds and study?

As far as I can tell, the museum itself hasn't been built yet.

DoireNod

Galvasean wrote: »

As far as I can tell, the museum itself hasn't been built yet.

Thanks, I just read the article. Probably should have done that first...:pac:

Galvasean

The BBC's story has a video and all:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8131915.stm

Not to mention a more digestible image:

Galvasean

Anyone interested in reading the proper peer reviewed paper on the discoveries can get it here as it has been made available to teh public for free. Aren't scientists nice?

If you'd like to know more about the upcoming Australian dinosaur museum you can check out it's official website here.

Galvasean

Nice close up pic of Australovenator's head (from National Geographic)



They also have a video here where you get a good look at the skeleton.

DoireNod

Galvasean wrote: »

Nice close up pic of Australovenator's head (from National Geographic)



They also have a video here where you get a good look at the skeleton.

That's a scary character! You're helping to re-kindle my interest in dinosaurs Galvasean!