In Depth
Like so many other Australian dinosaurs Qantassaurus is known only from frustratingly incomplete remains. At the time of writing the only parts of this dinosaur that are known are partial jaws, but they are still distinct enough to recognise as a new type of dinosaur. Qantassaurus has been classified as a hypsilophodontid dinosaur, which meant that it would have been a small fast running bipedal plant eater that would have browsed upon low growing vegetation. However while certainly similar to hypsilophodontid dinosaurs, there is now speculation that Qantassaurus and similar dinosaurs from Australia and Antarctica may actually need their own distinctive group.
Qantassaurus was named after the Qantas airline in recognition of the work and funding supplied by this company to support museum displays and conduct paleontological digs.
Further Reading
- The Hypsilophodontidae from southeastern Australia. Proceedings of the Second Gondwanan Dinosaur Symposium, - National Science Museum Monographs 15:167-180. - T. H. Rich & P. Vickers-Rich - 1999.
