Discovery and Significance
Five theropod fossils unearthed along Victoria's coastline, including the oldest known megaraptorids and the first Australian carcharodontosaurs, redefine the region's Cretaceous predator hierarchy.
These findings reveal a unique predator hierarchy in Cretaceous Australia, with large megaraptorids and smaller carcharodontosaurs, contrasting with 's -sized carcharodontosaurs.
Research and Community Efforts
The research, a collaborative effort involving and , highlights the importance of museum collections and community volunteers in paleontological discoveries.
The study underscores Australia's significant role in Gondwanan ecosystems and challenges previous assumptions about predator size hierarchies in ancient environments.