Giant fossil found in Qld headed for Age of Dinosaurs museum

Australia’s most complete ichthyosaur* fossil* has been found.

Located 100km south of McKinlay, in western Queensland, the incredible specimen, thought to belong to the species Platypterygius australis, is beautifully preserved and measures a whopping seven metres in length.

The near-complete and articulated* skeleton offers a unique opportunity to study the growth and body dimensions of the ichthyosaur and its role as a dominant predator* in the inland sea that covered much of western Queensland around 100 million years ago.

The discovery was made on Toolebuc Station by fossil fan Cassandra Prince while fossicking* in 2023. The specimen was carefully excavated* the following year by Ms Prince and her family, who own the neighbouring property.

Remarkably well-preserved, the skeleton includes a complete vertebral column, intact left flipper, partial right flipper, rare hind flippers, partial tailfin and nearly complete skull and torso – making it one of the most scientifically valuable marine reptile fossils in Australia.

The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History founders David and Judy Elliott helped safely collect the specimen, which was transported to the museum to be prepared. Generously donated by Toolebuc Station owner Sam Daniels and his family, the specimen represents a significant addition to the museum’s collection.

Preparation will begin in September, with a volunteer-driven workshop planned over summer, aiming for completion by mid-2026. The ichthyosaur will then be mounted for exhibition.

“This find is a huge win for science and public exhibitions in Australia,” said Mr Elliott. “Its discovery is testament to the dedication and expertise of Cassandra and her fossil-hunting family and the unique geological* heritage of the region.

“We look forward to sharing this incredible piece of Australia’s prehistory with visitors for generations to come.”

“This specimen is yet another example of the incredible palaeontological* resource that is regional Queensland,” said Queensland Museum Tropics senior scientist and curator of palaeontology Dr Espen Knutsen.

He added that such fossils were “crucial for improving our understanding of extinct species and ancient ecosystems”.

“(They) are also excellent ambassadors for Australia’s natural heritage and increasing public interest in palaeontology and STEM* subjects,” Dr Knutsen said.

With an estimated 90 per cent of the skeleton intact, this discovery is particularly significant, as most previous Australian ichthyosaur fossils have been incomplete. The find rivals other notable marine reptile discoveries, including a near-complete plesiosaur found on Ms Prince’s own family property in 2022.

The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum said in a statement that the find would help inspire and inform museum visitors about Australia’s prehistoric past and was an important addition to its collection of remarkable fossil discoveries and immersive educational experiences.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• ichthyosaur: extinct marine Mesozoic reptile that had a porpoise-like body with dorsal and tailfins and paddle-like limbs
• fossil: shape of a bone, a shell, or a plant or animal that has been preserved in rock for a very long period
• articulated: when the bones of a skeleton are still connected at their natural joints
• predator: an animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals
• fossicking: searching for something among other things
• excavated: removed earth that was covering something very old
• palaeontological: relating to study of fossils and the evolution of life on Earth
• STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths
• plesiosaur: extinct carnivorous marine reptile with a long or short neck

EXTRA READING

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QUICK QUIZ

1. Where and when was the specimen found?
2. How long does it measure?
3. What does the remarkably well-preserved skeleton include?
4. How long ago was the ichthyosaur a dominant predator?
5. What covered much of western Queensland at that time?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Fossil fact card
Create a fossil fact card about this ichthyosaur dinosaur discovery. Your card should include:

• name of dinosaur
• where it was found
• what scientists learned
• Include a labelled drawing on your card.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Write three new things you learned about fossils after reading this Kids News article.

1.

2.

3.

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Imaginative dialogue
Imagine you were there during the dig to excavate the ichthyosaur fossil.

Create a conversation between two characters from the article – you may need or want to include yourself as one of the characters. Don’t forget to try to use facts and details from the article to help make your dialogue as realistic as possible.

Go through your writing and highlight any punctuation you have used in green. Make sure you carefully check the punctuation used for the dialogue and ensure you have opened and closed the speaking in the correct places.