Muttaburrasaurus: The Big-Nosed Dinosaur That Was a Picky Eater

A new study regarding the Muttaburrasaurus, a herbivorous dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, suggests the creature was a picky eater with a nose for good food. The research focuses on the dinosaur’s toothy snout and olfactory capabilities to understand its feeding habits approximately 96 million years ago.

Muttaburrasaurus is one of Australia’s most completely known dinosaurs from skeletal remains, following Kunbarrasaurus. The genus, specifically the species Muttaburrasaurus langdoni, lived in what is now north-eastern Australia during the Albian-Cenomanian stages of the Cretaceous period.

Anatomy and Olfaction

The recent findings highlight the dinosaur’s big nose and specialized snout. Researchers indicate that these physical traits provided the animal with a sophisticated sense of smell, allowing it to be selective about the plant matter it consumed.

This olfactory capability would have allowed the Muttaburrasaurus to identify high-quality vegetation, effectively making it a selective feeder within its ecosystem. The study describes the animal as being well-equipped to nibble on tasty bush tucker.

Paleontological Background

The Muttaburrasaurus was first described from a partial skeleton discovered in 1963 by Doug Langdon. The find occurred at Rosebery Downs Station, located beside the Thomson River near Muttaburra in Queensland, Australia.

The remains were collected by entomologist Edward Dahms and paleontologist Dr. Alan Bartholomai. After an extensive preparation process, the dinosaur was officially named in 1981 by Bartholomai and Ralph Molnar, who chose the specific name langdoni to honor the original discoverer.

The holotype specimen, identified as QM F6140, was recovered from the Mackunda Formation. Based on U/Pb detrital zircon samples found in the vicinity of the holotype, the depositional age of the site is estimated to be the Cenomanian stage, specifically 96.3 ± 8.6 million years ago.

Classification and Significance

Taxonomically, Muttaburrasaurus is classified as a genus of herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur. While some analyses have previously recovered it as a member of the iguanodontian clade Rhabdodontomorpha, more recent research suggests a more basal position in the ornithopod family tree, potentially placing it within Elasmaria.

Due to its significance to the region’s natural history, the Muttaburrasaurus was selected from twelve candidates to serve as the official fossil emblem of the State of Queensland.

• Genus: Muttaburrasaurus
• Species: M. Langdoni
• Temporal Range: Early-Late Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian)
• Location: North-eastern Australia (Queensland)
• Diet: Herbivorous (selective/picky eater)