Richmond polycotylid
Some of our most important specimens are still waiting to be formally named. The Richmond polycotylid is a medium-sized plesiosaur with a relatively large head and long, slender jaws. It is the most complete fossil of a plesiosaur found in Australia, only missing a few bones from one paddle. Polycotylid fossils have been found around the world in marine rocks from the Cretaceous period, and the Richmond polycotylid is one of the oldest members of this group. It was found near the town of Richmond in north Queensland, in rocks that date to 100-113 million years ago (Lower Cretaceous period).
Kronosaurus queenslandicus
Kronosaurus queenslandicus was a fierce predator—an enormous pliosaur with a massive head and a short-neck. It was a marine reptile distantly related to the long-necked plesiosaurs. The jaws contain rows of large conical teeth, the biggest of which were nearly 30 centimetres in length. Fossil remains of other animals have been found as stomach contents in Kronosaurus, which indicate that it fed on turtles, other smaller marine reptiles, fishes and sharks.
Eromangasaurus australis
Eromangasaurus australis is an elasmosaur, a type of plesiosaur with an extremely long, slender neck. Some elasmosaurs had more than 70 vertebrae in their necks, more than any other type of animal. This plesiosaur is known from a single skull and a small number of associated neck vertebrae. This skull is crushed but is complete, with the lower jaw still in place. It is currently the only complete elasmosaur skull from Australia. Teeth marks on the skull are thought to be evidence of an attack by a large predator, possibly a Kronosaurus. Eromangasaurus was found near Maxwelton in north Queensland.