RARE FLYING REPTILE REMAINS FOUND IN OUTBACK QUEENSLAND

The fossil of a rare and ancient flying reptile discovered by scientists near the outback Queensland town of Hughenden was unveiled to the public today.

Arts Minister Rod Welford said a prized jawbone of a pterosaur, which roamed the area 100 million years ago, was a chance discovery by three scientists travelling in the area.

“The pterosaur jawbone was discovered two years ago but only now, after careful study at the Queensland Museum, has the find been made public,” Mr Welford said.

“This specimen is extremely rare with no more than 50 bones of these animals known from the whole of Australia and only three pieces of the actual jaw found here.

“The Queensland Museum is at the forefront of palaeontology research and this new discovery is another fine example of groundbreaking Smart State research being conducted at the Museum.

“The town of Hughenden has been fortunate to have two pterosaur fossils found in their area and in recognition, the Museum has prepared a fossil cast of this recent discovery for display at the Flinders Discovery Centre.”

Dr Alex Cook of the Queensland Museum, Adam Morell of Kronosaurus Korner, Richmond and Colin McHenry of the University of Newcastle discovered the jawbone.

Pterosaurs were winged flying reptiles that lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. The pterosaurs known from Queensland were all fish-eaters and lived around the edge of the great inland sea which flooded the Great Artesian Basin 100 million years ago.

Queensland Museum Senior Curator of Geosciences, Dr Alex Cook, said the fossil required painstaking preparation work before the front lower jaw of a pterosaur was revealed.

“The entire animal probably had a wingspan of two metres or so,” Dr Cook said. “Its curved, conical teeth, beautifully preserved in the fossil, were perfect for holding on to small fish.”

Sherilee Honnery of the Flinders Discovery Centre in Hughenden was delighted the specimen could be displayed locally: “It fits in perfectly with our existing pterosaur sculpture displays and complements the other pterosaur specimen found here in the 1980s.”

Scientists will continue to study the jawbone.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985