A NEW JURASSIC THEROPOD DINOSAUR FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract - A Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) theropod dinosaur, Ozraptor subotaii, gen. et sp. nov., is described from the ColaIura Sandstone of Western Australia, based on the distal end of a left tibia. The astragalar facet indicates that the dorsal process of the astragalus was high and distinctly rectangular in outline, with an anterior surface that is almost straight along its dorsal margin. It differs from all other theropods in which the tibia or astragalus is known as these have either weakly developed, low dorsal processes or high triangular-shaped processes. The specimen is significant in being the first Jurassic theropod bone from Australia, and the first Western Australian dinosaur to be formally named, apart from an ichnotaxon.