Long-Necked Dinosaur Bones
The discovery of a newly identified species of long-necked sauropod dinosaur, combined with the discovery of the braincase of an already known species of sauropod, is helping paleontologists determine when sauropods made it to Australia. It's likely that the dinosaurs hailed from South America and trekked across Antarctica, which was connected to both South America and Australia during the Cretaceous period. Antarctica is known for being cold, but it was slightly warmer during that time — between 120 million and 105 million years ago, when the sauropods' ancestors likely made the journey. [Read the Full Story on the New Down Under Sauropod Findings]
Living color
An artist's interpretation of the newfound sauropod species Savannasaurus elliottorum, nicknamed Wade. Wade's neck was likely longer than its tail, the researchers said.
Bone count
Savannasaurus elliottorum is one of the most complete sauropod dinosaur skeletons that researchers have ever found in Australia.
Life-size
Paleontologist Stephen Poropat, a palaeontologist and research associate at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum in Queensland, Australia, lies down next to five vertebrae from Savannasaurus elliottorum laid out as they were discovered.
More bones
Researchers found the braincase and several other bones belonging to the dinosaur Diamantinasaurus matildae in Australia. [Read the Full Story on the New Down Under Sauropod Findings]
The braincase
An artist's depiction of Diamantinasaurus matildae, the first sauropod dinosaur to have a partial braincase discovered in Australia.
Wide savanna
A photo from 2005 showing the site where Savannasaurus elliottorum, the dinosaur nicknamed Wade, was discovered in Queensland, Australia.
Staff photo
The staff from the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum pauses for a group photo at the so-called Ho-Hum site while transferring the Wade skeleton to its new home at the research facility.
Big transfer
Paleontologist Stephen Poropat prepares to transfer Wade's fossil remains to the research facility.
Dinosaurs buddies
Stephen Poropat (left), the lead researcher for the study, takes a break with David Elliott, who first discovered dinosaur bones on his property at the Ho-Hum site.
Big specimen
Stephen Poropat holds one of the sauropod bones discovered at the Ho-Hum site in Queensland, Australia. [Read the Full Story on the New Down Under Sauropod Findings]
