New species of dinosaur the size of a small kangaroo discovered in Australia resembles a galleon sailing ship
Prior to the new discovery the only other ornithopod known from the region was Qantassaurus intrepidus which was named in 1999
A SMALL species of dinosaur has been unearthed Down Under.
The Galleonosaurus Dorisae roamed between Australia and Antarctica 125 million years ago.
It had two legs, sharp teeth and was the size of a small kangaroo.
Galleonosaurus was identified from five upper jawbones dug up in Victoria, southern Australia.
The name refers to their shape - resembling the upturned hull of a sailing ship called a galleon.
The new species of dinosaur roamed a 'lost world' between Australia and Antarctica 125 million years ago, on two legs with sharp teeth.
Dr Matthew Herne, of the University of New England, New South Wales, said: "These small dinosaurs would have been agile runners on their powerful hind legs."
Dr Herne said they were unusually widespread in the "ancient rift valley that once extended between the spreading continents of Australia and Antarctica."
They thrived on the vast forested floodplain fuelled by powerful rivers - turning the valley into a lush, fertile environment.
Prior to discovery of Galleonosaurus dorisae, the only other ornithopod known from the region was Qantassaurus intrepidus, named in 1999.
But Qantassaurus had a shorter more robust snout than that of Galleonosaurus, said Dr Herne.
He said: "We consider these two, similarly-sized dinosaurs fed on different plant types, which would have allowed them to coexist."
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