? Muttaburrasaurus Conservation status: Fossil
Muttaburrasaurus skeleton at the Queensland Museum.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Superorder: Dinosauria Order: Ornithischia Suborder: Ornithopoda Genus: Muttaburrasaurus
Species
M. langdoni

Muttaburrasaurus was a large four-legged ornithopod herbivorous dinosaur genus that was capable of rearing onto two legs. It was similar to Iguanodon in that its three middle fingers were joined together into a hoof-like pad for walking on. It is known from one partial skeleton found at Muttaburra, Queensland, Australia, which also provides the creature's name. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (982x633, 73 KB) Muttaburrasaurus Skeleton - Queensland Museum This photograph was taken by Figaro. ... Queensland Museum - 1879-1899 later, the building housed the State Library Queensland Museum was first founded by the Queensland Government in 1862, and had several temporary homes until the Government built a home for the Museum in William Street, Brisbane. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms (as opposed to folk taxonomy). ... Phyla Subregnum Parazoa Porifera (sponges) Subregnum Agnotozoa Placozoa (trichoplax) Orthonectida (orthonectids) Rhombozoa (dicyemids) Subregnum Eumetazoa Radiata (unranked) (radial symmetry) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anemones) Bilateria (unranked) (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Orthonectida (parasitic to flatworms, echinoderms, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicatas Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Clades Subclass Anapsida Subclass Diapsida Infraclass Lepidosauromorpha Infraclass Archosauromorpha Sauropsida is an amniote clade that includes all recent and all or almost all extinct reptiles (excluding the Synapsida), and birds. ... Orders & Suborders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Thyreophora Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. ... Suborders Thyreophora Cerapoda    Ornithopoda    Marginocephalia Ornithischia is an order of beaked, herbivorous dinosaurs. ... Clades ?Heterodontosauridae Hypsilophodontia Iguanodontia    Hadrosauridae Ornithopods (or-nith-oh-PODS) are a group of ornithischian dinosaurs who started out as small, cursorial grazers, and grew in size and numbers until they became one of the most successful Cretaceous herbivores in the world, and totally dominated the North American landscape. ... In biology, a species is the basic unit of biodiversity. ... Clades ?Heterodontosauridae Hypsilophodontia Iguanodontia    Hadrosauridae Ornithopods (or-nith-oh-PODS) are a group of ornithischian dinosaurs who started out as small, cursorial grazers, and grew in size and numbers until they became one of the most successful Cretaceous herbivores in the world, and totally dominated the North American landscape. ... In zoology, an herbivore is an animal that is adapted to eat primarily plants (rather than meat). ... Orders & Suborders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Thyreophora Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. ... In biology, a genus (plural genera) is a taxonomic grouping. ... Species (neotype) (holotype) Iguanodon is a genus of ornithopod dinosaurs. ... Emblems: Faunal - Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); Floral - Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum); Bird - Brolga (Grus rubicunda); Aquatic - Barrier Reef Anemonefish (Amphiprion akindynos); Gem - Sapphire; Colour - Maroon Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Governor Premier Const. ...

Muttaburrasaurus had very powerful jaws equipped with shearing teeth. These were probably an adaptation for eating tough vegetation such as cycads. It also had an enlarged, hollow, upward-bulging muzzle that might have been used to produce distinctive calls or for display purposes. However, as no fossilised nasal tissue has been found, this remains conjectural. Types of teeth Molars are used for grinding up foods Carnassials are used for slicing food. ... Families Cycadaceaecycas family Stangeriaceaestangeria family Zamiaceaezamia family Cycads are an ancient group of seed plants characterized by a large crown of compound leaves and a stout trunk. ...

References

• BBC Science and Nature: Prehistoric Life
• Muttaburrasaurus, by T. Michael Keesey from the Dinosauricon. (cladogram, illustrations)
• Muttaburrasaurus langdoni, from Dann's Dinosaurs. (article)