David A Elliott

Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History · Palaeontology

The Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia, has produced several partial sauropod skeletons, but cranial remains—including teeth—remain rare. Herein, we present the first description of sauropod teeth from this formation, based on specimens from three separate sites. An isolated tooth and a dentary fragment from the Diamantinasa...

Ferrodraco lentoni, an anhanguerid from the Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation of northeast Australia, is the most complete Australian pterosaur described to date, represented by a partial cranium, incomplete cervical series and wing elements. Herein we present a comprehensive osteological description of Ferrodraco, as well as an emended diagnosis f...

Crocodylians are among Earth’s most successful hyper-carnivores, with their crocodyliform ancestors persisting since the Triassic. The diets of extinct crocodyliforms are typically inferred from distinctive bite-marks on fossil bone, which indicate that some species fed on contemporaneous dinosaurs. Nevertheless, the most direct dietary evidence (i...

The Upper Cretaceous 'upper' Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia is world famous for hosting Dinosaur Stampede National Monument at Lark Quarry Conservation Park, a somewhat controversial tracksite that preserves thousands of tridactyl dinosaur tracks attributed to ornithopods and theropods. Herein, we describe the Snake Creek Tracksite, a ne...

The titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur Diamantinasaurus matildae is represented by two individuals from the Cenomanian-lower Turonian 'upper' Winton Formation of central Queensland, northeastern Australia. The type specimen has been described in detail, whereas the referred specimen, which includes several elements not present in the type series (part...

The titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur Savannasaurus elliottorum is represented by a partial postcranial skeleton from the lower Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-lowermost Turonian) Winton Formation of Queensland, northeast Australia. Here, we present a detailed description of this specimen, as well as an emended diagnosis for this titanosaur. Savannasaur...

The holotype specimen of the megaraptorid Australovenator wintonensis, from the Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation (Rolling Downs Group, Eromanga Basin) of central Queensland, is the most complete non-avian theropod found in Australia to date. In fact, the holotype of A. wintonensis and isolated megaraptorid teeth (possibly referable to Australovena...

The Australian pterosaur record is poor by world standards, comprising fewer than 20 fragmentary specimens. Herein, we describe the new genus and species Ferrodraco lentoni gen. et sp. nov., based on the most complete pterosaur specimen ever found in Australia, and the first reported from the Winton formation (cenomanian-lower turonian). the presen...

Australian dinosaurs have played a rare but controversial role in the debate surrounding the effect of Gondwanan break-up on Cretaceous dinosaur distribution. Major spatiotemporal gaps in the Gondwanan Cretaceous fossil record, coupled with taxon incompleteness, have hindered research on this effect, especially in Australia. Here we report on two n...

The pedal range of motion in Australovenator wintonensis is investigated to determine what influence soft tissue had on range of motion in the foot. Fortunately, the theropod pes shares a close morphology with extant large cursorial birds. Therefore, to better understand the pedal range of motion of Australovenator, the pedal range of motion of Dro...

Megaraptorid theropods were an enigmatic group of medium-sized predatory dinosaurs, infamous for the hypertrophied claw on the first manual digit. Megaraptorid dentition is largely restricted to isolated teeth found in association with skeletal parts; however, the in situ maxillary dentition of Megaraptor was recently described. A newly discovered...

Left dentary of Australovenator wintonensis AODF 604 The holotype left dentary of Australovenator wintonensis: (A, B) Dorsal; (C, D) Lingual; (E, G) Labial. Abbreviations: Mg, Meckelian groove; sym, symphysis. Scale bar = 10 cm.

Left dentary of Australovenator wintonensis

Full and reduced data sets. Full (i.e., all 20 taxa) and reduced taxadatasets

Right dentary of Australovenator wintonensis The holotype AODF 604 right dentary of Australovenator wintonensis.

The hypertrophied manual claws and modified manus of megaraptoran theropods represent an unusual morphological adaptation among carnivorous dinosaurs. The skeleton of Australovenator wintonensis from the Cenomanian of Australia is among the most complete of any megaraptorid. It presents the opportunity to examine the range of motion of its forearm...

Wintonotitan wattsi, a Cretaceous titanosauriform sauropod from central Queensland, Australia, is redescribed following a full revision of its osteology. The holotype specimen, a partial postcranial skeleton derived from the lower Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation, comprises axial and appendicular elements. Wintonotitan has been commonly resolved a...

The osteology of Diamantinasaurus matildae, the most complete Cretaceous sauropod described from Australia to date, is comprehensively reassessed. The preparation of additional material from the type locality, pertaining to the same individual as the holotype, sheds light on the morphology of the axial skeleton and provides additional information o...

We report new skeletal elements pertaining to the same individual which represents the holotype of Australovenator wintonensis, from the 'Matilda Site' in the Winton Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of western Queensland. The discovery of these new elements means that the hind limb of Australovenator is now the most completely understood hind limb amon...

Astragalus (PDF)

Metatarsal IV (PDF)

Pedal phalanax I-2 (PDF)

Pedal phalanx II-1 (PDF)

Site photographs (PDF)

Femur (PDF)

Tibia (PDF)

Fibula (PDF)

Reconstructed metatarsus (PDF)

Metatarsal I (PDF)

Metatarsal III (PDF)

Pedal phalanx II-3 (PDF)

Pedal phalanx III-1 (PDF)

Pedal phalanx III-4 (PDF)

Pedal phalanx IV-1 (PDF)

Pedal phalanx IV-2 (PDF)

Pedal phalanx IV-5 (PDF)

Metatarsal II (PDF)

Pedal phalanx III-2 (PDF)

Pedal phalanx III-3 (PDF)

Pedal phalanx IV-3 (PDF)

Pedal phalanx IV-4 (PDF)

Pedal phalanx II-2 (PDF)

Reconstructed metatarsus and pes. (PDF)

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the cont...

New skeletal elements are reported of the holotype specimen Australovenator wintonensis, from the type locality, near Winton, central western Queensland. New elements include left and right humeri, right radius, right radiale, right distal carpal 1, near complete right metacarpal I, left manual phalanx II-1, left manual phalanx II-2, near complete...

Radiale measurements. (DOC)

Radii measurements. (DOC)

Distal carpal 1 measurements. (DOC)

Metacarpal 1 measurements. (DOC)

Manual phalanx I-1 measurements. (DOC)

Manual phalanx I-2 measurements. (DOC)

Metacarpal II measurements. (DOC)

(0.05 MB XLS)

(0.03 MB XLS)

Diamantinasaurus matildae - Dorsal rib measurements (mm) (0.03 MB DOC)

Diamantinasaurus matildae - Scapula measurements (mm) (0.02 MB DOC)

Diamantinasaurus matildae - Ulna measurements (mm) (0.04 MB DOC)

Diamantinasaurus matildae - Femur measurements (mm) (0.03 MB DOC)

Diamantinasaurus matildae - Tibia measurements (mm) (0.03 MB DOC)

Wintonotitan wattsi - Forearm measurements (mm) (0.03 MB DOC)

Wintonotitan wattsi - Ilium and Ischium measurements (mm) (0.03 MB DOC)

Diamantinasaurus matildae - Humerus measurements (mm) (0.03 MB DOC)

Australovenator wintonensis - Femur measurements (0.03 MB DOC)

(0.11 MB XLS)

Diamantinasaurus matildae - Manus measurements (mm) (0.03 MB DOC)

Wintonotitan wattsi - Metacarpal measurements (mm) (0.03 MB DOC)

Australovenator wintonensis - Ilium measurements (mm) (0.03 MB DOC)

Australovenator wintonensis - Forearm measurements (mm) (0.04 MB DOC)