Weewarrasaurus Facts
Pronunciation: WEE-war-ah-SORE-us
Name meaning: Wee Warra Lizard (after the Wee Warra opal field)
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 0.5m |
| Length | 1.5m |
| Weight | 8 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | Australia |
Weewarrasaurus was a small ornithopod dinosaur that lived around 100.5 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now New South Wales, Australia. This fascinating dinosaur is known primarily from fossilised jaw bones that were preserved in precious opal, making it one of the most visually striking fossil discoveries from Australia's famous Lightning Ridge opal fields.
As a herbivorous ornithopod, Weewarrasaurus would have fed on the ferns, cycads, and early flowering plants that grew in the warm, humid environment of Cretaceous Australia. Based on the size of its jaw bones, scientists estimate it was quite small, roughly the size of a large dog, measuring approximately 1.5 metres in length and standing about half a metre tall at the hip.
What makes Weewarrasaurus particularly special is its remarkable preservation in opal. The fossilisation process replaced the original bone material with this beautiful gemstone, creating specimens that are not only scientifically valuable but also stunning to observe. The dinosaur lived alongside several other ornithopod species of various sizes, suggesting that the Lightning Ridge area supported a diverse community of plant-eating dinosaurs during the mid-Cretaceous period.
What made Weewarrasaurus distinctive?
Weewarrasaurus is distinguished primarily by its opalised fossil remains, particularly the dentary (lower jaw bone) which shows typical ornithopod dental characteristics. The small size of the jaw bones indicates this was a relatively diminutive member of the ornithopod group.
Behaviour
As a small herbivorous ornithopod, Weewarrasaurus likely moved on both two and four legs, browsing on low-growing vegetation. It would have used its beak-like front of the mouth to crop plants and its cheek teeth to process tough plant material before swallowing.
Discovery
Weewarrasaurus was first described by Phil Bell and colleagues in 2018. The original fossils were discovered at Griman Creek Formation, Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia.
Weewarrasaurus FAQ
What did Weewarrasaurus eat?
Weewarrasaurus was a herbivore that fed on the plants available in Cretaceous Australia, including ferns, cycads, and early flowering plants. It would have used its beak-like front teeth to crop vegetation and its cheek teeth to grind up tough plant material.
How big was Weewarrasaurus?
Weewarrasaurus was a relatively small dinosaur, estimated to be about 1.5 metres long, 0.5 metres tall at the hip, and weighing approximately 8 kilograms - roughly the size of a large dog.
When did Weewarrasaurus live?
Weewarrasaurus lived during the
Late Cretaceous period, specifically around 100.5 million years ago, when Australia had a much warmer and more humid climate than today.
Where was Weewarrasaurus found?
Weewarrasaurus was discovered in the Griman Creek Formation near Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, Australia. This area is world-famous for its opalised fossils, including dinosaur remains.
How do you pronounce Weewarrasaurus?
Weewarrasaurus is pronounced 'WEE-war-ah-SORE-us', with emphasis on the first syllable of each part of the name.
What does Weewarrasaurus mean?
Weewarrasaurus means 'Wee Warra Lizard', named after the Wee Warra opal field near Lightning Ridge where opalised fossils are commonly discovered.
How fast could Weewarrasaurus run?
The running speed of Weewarrasaurus is unknown, as we have very limited fossil material. However, as a small ornithopod, it was likely quite agile and capable of quick bursts of speed when escaping predators.
What type of dinosaur was Weewarrasaurus?
Weewarrasaurus was an ornithopod dinosaur, a group of herbivorous dinosaurs known for their bird-like hips and plant-eating adaptations including beak-like front teeth and grinding cheek teeth.
Was Weewarrasaurus related to birds?
As an ornithopod, Weewarrasaurus belonged to a different major group of dinosaurs than those that gave rise to birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, whilst Weewarrasaurus was an ornithischian dinosaur, though all dinosaurs share common ancestry.
How many Weewarrasaurus fossils have been found?
Very few Weewarrasaurus fossils have been discovered - the species is known primarily from a holotype dentary (lower jaw bone) and one additional referred dentary, both preserved in opal from the Lightning Ridge area.
