SAMS Group Australia
advertisement
SAMS Group Australia
advertisement
SAMS Group Australia
advertisement
Goto your account
Search Stories by: 
and/or
 

News












Four sauropod teeth preserved through the opalisation process in Lightning Ridge. <b>Image credit:</b> Courtesy Timothy Frauenfelder
Four sauropod teeth preserved through the opalisation process in Lightning Ridge. Image credit: Courtesy Timothy Frauenfelder

Opalised dinosaur teeth found in Australia

Researchers from the University of New England have analysed several sauropod teeth preserved through opalisation in Lightning Ridge, NSW, discovering previously unknown details about dinosaurs that once lived in the region.

The four teeth were supplied by the Australian Opal Centre – which is located in Lightning Ridge and is home to the world’s premier public collection of opalised dinosaur fossils – and the Australian Museum in Sydney.

Timothy Frauenfelder, PhD candidate in palaeontology at UNE
Timothy Frauenfelder, PhD candidate in palaeontology at UNE
“Teeth are one of the smallest bones in a sauropod and there is an abundance of them at Lightning Ridge”
Timothy Frauenfelder, University of New England

They belonged to species including brontosaurus and brachiosaurus, which could grow up to 40m and weigh 90 tonnes.

Australia is the only known source of opalised dinosaur fossils, and all dinosaur fossils found at Lightning Ridge are opalised. While sauropod fossils are commonly found in central Queensland, few had been discovered in NSW.

Lead researcher Timothy Frauenfelder said the fossils provided valuable insights into the prehistoric environment.

“Teeth are one of the smallest bones in a sauropod and there is an abundance of them at Lightning Ridge. Although small in comparison to other sauropod fossils, which can be over one metre long, teeth can be incredibly useful in assessing ecology and diversity,” he explained.

Frauenfelder added, “Sauropod dinosaurs don’t have different types of teeth such as molars or incisors, and differing tooth shapes can give us an idea about how many species were living in a particular area. Based on this, we can identify potentially three different species of sauropods that co-existed at Lightning Ridge.”

The findings were published in the journal Lethaia.

 

More reading:
Opal museum gets the green light in Lightning Ridge
Australian Opal Centre seeks patrons
Aussie opal industry back in spotlight
 











SAMS Group Australia
advertisement





Read current issue

login to my account
Username: Password:
Duraflex Group Australia
advertisement
Jeweller Magazine
advertisement
Rapid Casting
advertisement
© 2024 Befindan Media