Fossil Hunters Unearth Incredible ‘Rosetta Stone’ Skeleton Of A Dinosaur That Roamed Australia’s Vast Inland Sea 100million Years Ago

The discovery of a giant 100 million-year-old marine reptile’s skeleton in Australia has been hailed by researchers as a breakthrough that may provide vital clues about prehistoric life.

At a large distant property in the McKinlay area, the whole skeleton of an old plesiosaur, or extinct sea reptile, was discovered—a first for Australia.

The rare fossil was discovered by a station owner, Cassandra, alongside fellow amateur fossil sleuths Sally and Cynthia, known as the ‘Rock Chicks’.

A comparison to the ancient engraved stone found in Egypt in 1799, which is thought to hold the secret to understanding Egyptian hieroglyphics, has been made between the find and the Rosetta Stone of marine reptile palaeontology.

A team of museum palaeontologists travelled to the remote site to collect the fossil of the elasmosaur, a plesiosaur that lived alongside the dinosaurs. The Elasmosaurus lived in the Eromanga Sea, which covered large parts of inland Australia between 140 and 100million years ago.

Dr. Espen Knutsen, a senior scientist with the Queensland Museum Network, oversaw the retrieval of the bones, which he described as the first known head and body of an Australian elasmosaur to be kept in a museum collection.

‘We were extremely excited when we saw this fossil – it is like the Rosetta Stone of marine palaeontology as it may hold the key to unravelling the diversity and evolution of long-necked plesiosaurs in Cretaceous Australia,’ Dr Knutsen said.

‘We have never found a body and a head together, and this could hold the key to future research in this field.

There are already well over a hundred different species of plesiosaurs that have been identified. Some had long necks and small heads, while others had short necks and enormous heads.

Elasmosaurus possessed thin teeth for grabbing fish, crabs, and mollusks and rose to the top of the sea to breathe air.

Scientists have discovered plesiosaur fossils with stones (called gastroliths) in the stomach area, showing they swallowed them to either grind up food in their stomachs or as ballast to aid in diving.

Dr. Jim Thompson, CEO of Queensland Museum Network, said the discovery will contribute to a thorough understanding of Queensland’s Cretaceous marine reptiles.

“We now hold the only head and body of an Australian elasmosaur in the world, and this significant find will contribute greatly to vital research into Queensland’s Cretaceous past,” Dr Thompson said.

One of Australia’s most complete plesiosaur specimens, known as “Dave the Plesiosaur,” is housed at the Queensland Museum Network. It was discovered in 1999, but although possessing 80% of its bones, it was lacking a skull, fins, and tail tips.”

Along with the new skeleton, the remains of plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs were discovered and collected on the field trip, which will be transported to Townsville for preparation and further research.

The find is one of the biggest discovered by amateur palaeontologists the Rock Chicks, who have walked hundreds of kilometres on their quest to uncover fossils which include a plesiosaur each, a kronosaurus, an ichthyosaur and several fish and turtles.

Related Posts

Nursing Dog Mom Runs Up To A Woman Trying To Get Help For Her Babies

For Ashley Boggs, a long-time dog rescuer, saving dogs is a life mission. One day, she was driving down a forest road in Puerto Rico when she…

A Sweet Pup Was About To Be Euthanized, But This Woman Rushed To The Shelter

What stray pups wish for the most as they wander the lonely streets is to be noticed by humans and to be taken somewhere safe. They long…

Rescue Kitten Adopts Orphaned Puppy And The Duo Is Now Inseparable

There is something so wholesome about seeing a cat and a dog get along well and live together like two siblings.Anyone who has ever owned both can…

A Depressed Rescue Dog Is Delighted When She Is Finally Adopted

“A shelter is not a place for dogs,” said Shira Scott Astrof, for The Dodo, after successfully completing her adoption mission of another puppy. Although this experienced CEO of A.R.M….

Shelter Dog Gives The Warmest Hug To Reporter And He Couldn’t Say “No”

All the friendships in the world are great. If they are filled with trust and love, they are the best. But, the one between a dog and…

Quiet Dog Who Wouldn’t Stop Barking Ended Up Saving His Owner’s Life

Sometimes, we are led to believe that we are choosing to adopt the pet that we want to spend our lives with; however, there are instances where…