Rhoetosaurus brownei

Acrylics on paper 1997. Repaint and digital tinkering 2012.

Queensland (Walloon Coal Measures), ca.165,000,000bp (Bathonian-Callovian, Middle Jurassic)

The sauropod Rhoetosaurus brownei represents the only Aussie Jurassic dinosaur known from more than isolated fragments. The single partial skeleton was initially discovered in 1924 on a pastoral property near the town of Roma, Queensland, and was gradually recovered in a series of collecting forays over the years. Rhoetosaurus is currently known from over 40 vertebrae, ribs, parts of the pelvis plus an almost complete hindlimb. Mid-sized by sauropod standards at about 12-14 meters in length, it had a comparatively short tail and a relatively long neck (based on the single known cervical vertebra). Archaic features include the presence of four claws on the hindfeet instead of the usual three.

This is one of my earliest surviving attempts at coloured paleo-art and was given a revamp to iron out the most embarrasing anatomical gaffes.