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Abstract
New observations on various sauropod postcranial elements from Queensland provide insights into the taxonomic composition of northern Australia's sauropod fauna and the structure of sauropod vertebrae. An incomplete sauropod humerus from a site near Blackall, Queensland, represents the southernmost occurrence of sauropod fossils in the Eromanga Basin, and indicates a possibly new taxon. The internal architecture of at least one of the vertebral centra of Austrosaurus mckillopi comprises bony disks parallel to the posterior articular face and bony lamellae perpendicular to the anterior articular face reinforcing the structure against axial forces. The lack of pneumaticity proximally in dorsal ribs indicates that A. mckillopi may not be a titanosauriform. Material (QM F6737) from the Winton Formation includes probable osteoderms, the first known from Australian sauropods, and some of the oldest known. Comparison of this specimen with named Winton Formation sauropods suggests that it represents a distinct taxon.
Acknowledgements
The assistance of Laurie Beirne (Queensland Museum), Michael D. D'Emic (University of Michigan), David D. Gillette (Museum of Northern Arizona), Matt Lamanna (Carnegie Museum of Natural History), Steven W. Salisbury (Queensland University), Tony Thulborn (then at Queensland University), the late Mary Wade (Queensland Museum), Mathew Wedel (Western College of Health Sciences) and Joanne Wilkinson (Queensland Museum) in various aspects of this project is much appreciated. The referees and editors also contributed much appreciated helpful comments.