Australia’s most complete pterosaur fossil with a wingspan of 4.6 metres has been discovered at the Richmond Fossil Hunting Sites in Outback Queensland. The fossil nicknamed ‘The Crash Site,’ will be unveiled on 3rd April 2024 at Kronosaurus Korner, home to the most complete and scientifically significant pterosaur collection in Australia.
Kronosaurus Korner Research Associate Adele Pentland explained why the discovery is so significant.
“The 100-million-year-old fossil from the Early Cretaceous period is 22% complete,” Ms Pentland said.
“This specimen includes part of the snout, the complete lower jaws, more than 40 teeth, vertebrae, ribs, bones from both wings and part of a leg. It also preserves thin and delicate throat bones, which are extremely rare in the fossil record.
“Very few pterosaur fossils have throat bones, and in this specimen, they’re the longest relative to the lower jaw of any pterosaur in the world, suggesting this animal had a strong tongue.”
Pterosaurs are the first vertebrates that developed flight millions of years before birds took to the skies. Some pterosaurs were the largest animals to ever fly and had wingspans up to 12m. ‘The Crash Site’ will be unveiled alongside another significant discovery nicknamed ‘Petrie’, a pterosaur skull that most likely represents a new species to science.
Kronosaurus Korner Curator Kevin Petersen discovered ‘Petrie’ and ‘The Crash Site’ while hunting in the public dig sites.
“I was checking another fossil and walking back to the car when I noticed bones sticking out of the ground, and I instantly knew what it was,” Mr Petersen said about discovering ‘The Crash Site’.
“Pterosaur bones are super rare and distinctive. I started digging the dirt around it, uncovering significantly more bone and realised it was something pretty special.”
Forty-one registered pterosaur specimens among the 1500 fossil specimens housed at Kronosaurus Korner are some of the rarest in the world. This proves that anyone can create history through this exclusive experience, available to anyone with a keen eye and sense of adventure.
“Ninety per cent of the Kronosaurus Korner pterosaur collection has been discovered at the Richmond Fossil Hunting Sites,” Mr Petersen said.
“I’m chuffed that two of my discoveries are believed to be new species, as my passion lies in helping shape our modern knowledge of prehistoric species.”
The great thing about Richmond is that anyone can come out and dig for fossils.
“The prehistoric of Richmond’s Fossil Hunting Sites were deposited around 100 million years ago when it was covered by an ancient inland sea,” Mr Petersen said
“By turning a few stones over you can uncover a fossilised fish, squid, shark tooth or a pterosaur that may change how palaeontologist interpret Australia’s ancient past.”
The Richmond Fossil Hunting Sites are located 12km north of Richmond in Outback Queensland.
Kronosaurus Korner is part of Dinosaur Experiences Australia, a collective formed in 2023 that offers some of the most unique and hands-on prehistoric experiences in Australia. Founding members of Dinosaur Experiences Australia also include the Eromanga Natural History Museum, Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre and the Flinders Discovery Centre.
Kronosaurus Kroner offers visitors the opportunity via a number of bookable experiences, giving the visitor the thrill of hunting for their own fossils and joining fellow fossil hunters searching for prehistoric marine treasures left behind by a once-inland sea. These guided digging experiences offer a journey through the discovery and reconstruction of Australia’s prehistoric past and a chance to glimpse into the science that breathes life back into the ‘real life monsters’ that once dominated the seas during Australia’s Early Cretaceous period.
