7 May 2009
QUEENSLAND DINOSAUR DISCOVERIES EXPLORED AT MTQ
The latest dinosaur discoveries from Outback Queensland will be revealed in a free public lecture at the Museum of Tropical Queensland (MTQ) from 12noon to1pm on Tuesday 12 May.
Queensland Museum Senior Curator of Geosciences Dr Alex Cook will explore the amazing dinosaurs that inhabited Queensland almost 100 million years ago.
MTQ Director Peter McLeod said Dr Cook's presentation will provide an overview of the world-renowned work conducted by Queensland Museum's palaeontologists.
"Queensland's rich fossil history includes many of Australia's foremost dinosaur finds," Mr McLeod said.
"Alex's talk will describe where they lived, where they were found, and the new and exciting discoveries being made."
Dr Cook said that our most famous Queensland dinosaurs include Minmi and Muttaburrasaurus.
"Alongside the dinosaurs lived crocodiles, pterosaurs, amphibians and other animals, whilst in the sea lived pliosaurs, ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, sharks and fishes all of which have been found in Queensland," Dr Cook said.
"And there have been new finds, as yet unnamed, which will add to the growing list of Queensland dinosaurs."
Dr Alex Cook was trained in Wollongong and Townsville and has been at the Queensland Museum since 1992. He has worked extensively in the Great Artesian Basin and has a research interest in fossil molluscs, fossil reefs and the palaeontology of Cretaceous faunas in Queensland. The author of more than 25 papers and books, Alex previously worked as a tutor at James Cook University in stratigraphy, sedimentology and palaeontology.
The dinosaur-themed talk is part of the public program developed for Hatching the Past: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies, a travelling exhibition produced by StoneCompany.com in association with Gondwana Studios. The display will run until 17 July 2009.
Entry to the Museum of Tropical Queensland is free for residents of local councils through the Council Community Pass, generously supported by Townsville, Burdekin and Charters Towers councils.
The Museum of Tropical Queensland, a campus of the Queensland Museum, is open from 9.30am to 5pm daily.
