Austrosaurus

Austrosaurus (; ) was an extinct genus of sauropod dinosaur from the Allaru Formation, dated to the early Cretaceous (112-100 million years ago), of Central-Western Queensland in Australia. Several specimens are known.

== Discovery and species == thumb|left|Dorsal vertebra from the holotype The holotype, QM F2361 (consisting of three blocks containing primitive and badly weathered vertebrae and rib fragments, with a further 5 large blocks and at least 10 smaller ones later assigned to the holotype as well), was discovered by Mr. H.B. Wade on Clutha Station near Maxwelton in north Queensland in 1932, who alerted the station manager H. Mackillop, who showed his brother who sent them to the Queensland Museum. Austrosaurus was described by Heber Longman in 1933. The specimens may have transported out to sea where they were possibly scavenged by marine life such as the pliosaur known as Kronosaurus. ==Description== The holotype specimen (QM F2316) comprises several fragmentary presacral vertebrae preserved within blocks of matrix. These vertebrae are interpreted as belonging to the posterior cervical and anterior dorsal regions of the vertebral column, based on their proportions and laminar architecture. The centra are elongate and internally pneumatic, reflecting extensive camellate internal architecture formed by numerous small chambers produced by invasion of air sacs, a feature typical of derived titanosauriform sauropods. In at least one centrum, the internal structure consists of thin bony partitions arranged in disc-like layers parallel to the posterior articular surface, indicating a complex pneumatic internal morphology. Austrosaurus is known to have had strongly camellate internal vertebral structure.