Leslie Massey
Dinosaur fossils are rare in Western Australia due to the lack of exposed rocks of the right age and suitable environments for bone preservation. However, dinosaur fossils and footprints have been discovered in the region, providing evidence of the diverse range of dinosaurs that once inhabited Australia. Western Australia, specifically Broome, is one of the few fossil sites in the country, featuring trackways with sauropod and theropod footprints. The West Kimberley trackways were registered on the Australian National Heritage List in 2011, recognising their significance. The Hill Spring area in the Gascoyne region also contains coprolites, or fossilised faeces, likely produced by large marine reptiles such as pliosaurs, plesiosaurs, or ichthyosaurs. While dinosaur fossils are scarce in Western Australia, these discoveries contribute to our understanding of the prehistoric past and highlight the unique palaeontological value of the region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of dinosaur fossils found in Western Australia | Low |
| Reason for the low number of fossils | Lack of exposed rocks of the right age and suitable environments for bone preservation |
| Types of fossils found | Bones, footprints, coprolites |
| Locations of fossils | Broome Sandstone, Gascoyne region, Hill Spring, Broome, Dinosaur Cove |
| Types of dinosaurs | Sauropods, theropods, stegosaurs |
| Other giant reptiles | Pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, pliosaurs, ichthyosaurs |
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What You'll Learn
Dinosaur fossils are rare in Western Australia
The best evidence of Western Australian dinosaurs is found near and north of Broome, in the Lower Cretaceous Broome Sandstone. Here, dinosaur trackways have been discovered, including sauropod and theropod footprints. These trackways are very close to the coast and can only be visited at low tide; at high tide, they are covered by the ocean. The footprints will eventually be eroded by waves, and some have already been stolen by illegal fossil traders.
In the Gascoyne region, coprolites (fossilised faeces) can be found in the Hill Spring area. These coprolites are preserved within the Gearle Siltstone of the Carnarvon Basin, a marine unit from which pliosaur bones have also been collected. The coprolites are large and well-formed, suggesting they were made by a large dolphin-sized animal, probably one of the marine reptiles known to have lived in the area at the time, such as pliosaurs, plesiosaurs, or ichthyosaurs.
While dinosaur fossils are rare in WA, fossils of pterosaurs and various groups of giant marine reptiles from the Mesozoic era have also been recorded.
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Footprints and trackways are evidence of dinosaurs
Dinosaur fossils are rare in Western Australia due to the lack of exposed rocks of the right age and environment for preserving bones. However, footprints and trackways provide valuable evidence of dinosaurs that once roamed the region. These prints are typically found in areas with suitable conditions for preservation, such as river and swamp deposits.
The Dampier Peninsula on the northern coast of Western Australia boasts an impressive collection of dinosaur footprints. Exposed on an 80 km stretch of coastline, these footprints are believed to be the greatest concentration of dinosaur footprints globally. The prints belong to about 21 different dinosaur types, including sauropods, ornithopods, and armoured dinosaurs like stegosaurs. This diverse array of prints offers a unique glimpse into Australia's dinosaur fauna during the early Cretaceous period.
The Broome Sandstone near Broome also contains significant dinosaur trackways, including sauropod and theropod footprints. These tracks are part of the West Kimberley region, registered on the Australian National Heritage List in 2011. As they are close to the coast, the tides play a crucial role in their visibility and preservation. At high tide, the tracks are submerged, and over time, they will be eroded by waves.
The discovery of dinosaur footprints in Western Australia is not limited to coastal areas. In the Gascoyne region, specifically the Hill Spring area, coprolites (fossilized faeces) provide evidence of the presence of large dolphin-sized marine reptiles, such as pliosaurs, plesiosaurs, or ichthyosaurs. While the internal structure of these coprolites has not been preserved, their size and shape offer insights into the ancient inhabitants of the region.
Footprints and trackways are invaluable tools for palaeontologists, filling in gaps in the fossil record where body fossils are scarce. They provide evidence of the presence and diversity of dinosaurs in Western Australia, contributing to our understanding of the ancient ecosystems and the dinosaurs that inhabited them.
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Marine reptiles and pterosaurs lived alongside dinosaurs
Dinosaur fossils are rare in Western Australia due to the lack of exposed rocks of the right age and environment for preserving bones. However, evidence suggests that marine reptiles and pterosaurs lived alongside dinosaurs in this region during the Mesozoic era.
Marine reptiles are reptiles that have adapted to living in marine or semiaquatic environments. Only about 100 of the 12,000 extant reptile species are classed as marine reptiles, including marine iguanas, sea snakes, sea turtles, and saltwater crocodiles. During the Mesozoic era, many groups of reptiles became adapted to marine life, including ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, nothosaurs, placodonts, sea turtles, thalattosaurs, and thalattosuchians. Some marine reptiles, like ichthyosaurs, became so well-adapted to the water that they could no longer venture onto land. Others, like sea turtles and saltwater crocodiles, return to shore to lay their eggs.
In Western Australia, evidence of marine reptiles has been found near and north of Broome, in the Lower Cretaceous Broome Sandstone. Coprolites, or fossilized feces, of large marine reptiles have been discovered in the Gascoyne region, along with pliosaur bones. These coprolites are well-preserved and suggest the presence of dolphin-sized marine reptiles such as pliosaurs, plesiosaurs, or ichthyosaurs.
Pterosaurs, often referred to as "flying dinosaurs," were an extinct clade of flying reptiles that existed during the Mesozoic era. They were close cousins of dinosaurs, more closely related to birds and dinosaurs than to crocodiles or other living reptiles. Pterosaurs had a variety of lifestyles, including fish-eating, hunting land animals, insectivores, and even predating other pterosaurs. They had elaborate head crests, long necks, and short torsos, with wings formed by a membrane of skin, muscle, and tissue stretching from the ankles to their lengthened fourth finger. Their fossils are often incomplete due to their fragile bones, which preserved poorly.
Thus, while dinosaur fossils may be scarce in Western Australia, the presence of marine reptiles and pterosaurs adds to the understanding of the diverse ancient life that coexisted alongside dinosaurs in this region.
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Coprolites offer insight into large marine reptiles
Dinosaur fossils are rare in Western Australia due to the lack of exposed rocks of the right age and environment for preserving bones. However, Western Australia is known to have been home to giant marine reptiles during the Mesozoic era, including ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and pliosaurs.
Coprolites, or fossilised dung, are one type of fossil commonly found in the fossil record. They can be easily mistaken for non-fossiliferous nodules. In Western Australia, some of the best coprolites can be found in the Hill Spring area in the Gascoyne region. These coprolites are preserved within the Gearle Siltstone of the Carnarvon Basin, a marine unit that has also yielded pliosaur bones. The coprolites are large and well-formed, suggesting they were produced by a large dolphin-sized animal, likely one of the marine reptiles known to have inhabited the area, such as pliosaurs, plesiosaurs, or ichthyosaurs.
The coprolites come in various shapes, including cigar-shaped examples that appear to have rolled on the seafloor before being buried. Unfortunately, the internal structure of these coprolites was not preserved, and the dung has been replaced by different minerals. However, they still provide valuable insights into the diet and feeding habits of these ancient marine reptiles.
The discovery of coprolites in Western Australia, along with other fossils like trackways and vertebrae, contributes to our understanding of the diverse range of creatures that once inhabited the region. These fossils provide a window into the Mesozoic era, when Western Australia was home to not only dinosaurs but also giant marine reptiles and pterosaurs.
While dinosaur fossils may be scarce in Western Australia, the presence of coprolites and other fossils highlights the dynamic ancient environment that existed during the Mesozoic era. These discoveries offer valuable insights into the ecology and biodiversity of that time, shedding light on the large marine reptiles that once swam alongside the dinosaurs.
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The best evidence is found near and north of Broome
The best evidence of dinosaurs in Western Australia is found near and north of Broome, in the Kimberley region of North-Western Australia. This area, known as the Dinosaur Coast, boasts an abundance of dinosaur footprints along its spectacular beaches.
The dinosaur footprints around Broome are recognised as some of the most significant in the world, with trackways stretching for about 80 km along the sandstone coastline from south of Broome up to the Dampier Peninsula. These tracks were made during the early Cretaceous period, approximately 120 million years ago, by a diverse range of dinosaurs, including theropods, sauropods, ornithopods, and stegosaurs.
The Dampier Peninsula's dinosaur track fauna is unparalleled in Australia and possibly globally. The tracks were made by thousands of dinosaurs stomping through the intertidal sands and mud along the shoreline, altering the topography. The footprints can be seen at low tide around Cable Beach, Gantheaume Point, and Reddell Beach. Gantheaume Point is particularly noteworthy, as it offers access to both theropod and sauropod tracks.
The large, round impressions of sauropod tracks, made by massive herbivores like the Brachiosaurus, can measure up to 1.7 m in diameter, indicating creatures up to 35 m in length. Meanwhile, the three-toed carnivorous theropod tracks belong to dinosaurs that walked on two legs. The extent of these trackways only emerged in the late 1980s, thanks to the work of local naturalist Paul Foulkes and his partner Louise Middleton, who collaborated closely with Aboriginal custodians.
The dinosaur tracks in this region hold cultural significance for the First Nations people of the Dampier Peninsula and greater west Kimberley. They are integral to a song cycle that traces the journey of a Dreamtime creator being known as Marala or 'Emu Man'. The tracks were included in the West Kimberley National Heritage List in 2011, ensuring their protection and preservation for future generations.
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Frequently asked questions
Dinosaur fossils are rare in Western Australia, but footprints and bones have been found in the Broome Sandstone near Broome, including sauropod and theropod footprints. The best evidence for Western Australian dinosaurs is found near and north of Broome.
The low number of dinosaur fossils found in Western Australia is due to the lack of exposed rocks of the right age and the right environments suitable for the preservation of bones. Dinosaur bones are rarely found in rocks deposited under oceanic conditions, and these finds tend to be individual bones rather than complete skeletons.
Coprolites, fossilised faeces, have been found in the Hill Spring area of the Gascoyne region. These coprolites were likely made by large dolphin-sized marine reptiles such as pliosaurs, plesiosaurs or ichthyosaurs.
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