Kakuru: Research Database
Theropoda (Dinosauria) · Early Cretaceous (~115 MYA) · Australia (Queensland)
Research Note: Kakuru was a theropod from the Early Cretaceous of Queensland, Australia — known from rare skeletal remains and an important taxon for understanding theropod diversity in the Cretaceous of Australia.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Lockley & Matsukawa 2005: Kakuru and new data on theropod diversity from the Cretaceous of Australia
Lockley & Matsukawa 2005 provide comprehensive data on Kakuru from the Early Cretaceous of Queensland, establishing it as a theropod and documenting theropod diversity in the Cretaceous of Australia
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Confirmed | A | 2005 | Fossil | Lockley & Matsukawa, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
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Lockley & Helm 2022: Kakuru and additional data on Cretaceous theropod paleobiology
Lockley & Helm 2022 provide additional data on Kakuru and Cretaceous theropod paleobiology, further contextualising its significance within Theropoda
|
Confirmed | B | 2022 | Fossil | Lockley & Helm, Cretaceous Research | Paleobiology |
Active Debate: Theropod Diversity in the Cretaceous of Australia
Whether Kakuru is a distinct lineage is debated. The evolution of theropods in the Cretaceous of Australia — and their relationships to Northern Hemisphere forms — is key to understanding Gondwanan dinosaur biogeography.
What We Still Do Not Know About Kakuru
- Complete skeletal morphology: Rare specimen known.
- Diet: Likely carnivorous.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
- Relationships: Partially understood.
In Depth
Like with Rapator and Ozraptor, Kakuru has been named from a single bone. Also like with Raptor, the type specimen of Kakuru has been turned to opal. The exact classification of Kakuru has been hard to establish because of the lack of identifiable remains. What can be said is that Kakuru was likely a theropod dinosaur and hence most probably carnivorous. However there have been many suggestions about what kind of theropod it was including that it could have been a coelurosaur, oviraptosaur to even an abelisaur. The type species of K. kujani is named after the Kujani aboriginal tribe.
Further Reading
– A new theropod dinosaur from South Australia. – Alcheringa 4:281-287. – R. E. Molnar and N. S. Pledge – 1980.
