Rhoetosaurus: Research Database
Sauropoda (Dinosauria) · Middle-Late Jurassic (~170-165 MYA) · Australia — Queensland (Clarence-Moreton Basin)
Research Note: Rhoetosaurus is an important fossil taxon. See citations below for primary research literature.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nair & Salisbury 2012: Comprehensive description and phylogenetic analysis of Rhoetosaurus from the Middle-Late Jurassic of Queensland, Australia
Nair & Salisbury 2012 in Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology provides foundational data on Rhoetosaurus
|
Confirmed | A | 2 | Fossil | Rhoetosaurus research in Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | Taxonomy |
|
Jannel et al. 2019: New data on the anatomy and biomechanics of Rhoetosaurus from the Jurassic of Australia
Jannel et al. 2019 in Journal of Morphology provides additional data on Rhoetosaurus
|
Confirmed | B | 9 | Fossil | Rhoetosaurus research in Journal of Morphology | Systematics |
Active Debate
Active research continues on the systematics, phylogeny, and ecology of Rhoetosaurus.
What We Still Do Not Know About Rhoetosaurus
- Colouration: Unknown.
- Complete skeleton: Partial material known.
- Diet: Inferred from related taxa.
- Social structure: No direct evidence.
In Depth
Rhoetosaurus was the first sauropod dinosaur discovered in Australia, and for a long time it was one of only two sauropods, the other being Austrosaurus, known to have come from there. In 2009 two other sauropods called Diamantinasaurus and Wintonotitan were named, although all four are only represented by partial remains.
Although it is widely thought that Rhoetosaurus comes from the Bajocian period, there is some uncertainty to this.
Further Reading
– A giant dinosaur from Durham Downs, Queensland – Heber A. Longman – 1926. – The giant dinosaur Rhoetosaurus brownei – Heber A. Longman – 1927. – New anatomical information on Rhoetosaurus brownei Longman, 1926, a gravisaurian sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Queensland, Australia. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 32 (2): 369–94. – Jay P. Nair & Steven W. Salisbury – 2012. – Refined age and geological context of two of Australia’s mostimportant Jurassic vertebrate taxa (Rhoetosaurus brownei and Siderops kehli), Queensland. – Gondwana Research. – C. N. Todd, E. M. Roberts, E. M. Knutsen, A. C. Rozefelds, H. -Q.Huang & Spandler – 2019.
