A
dinosaur living in the early
Cretaceous period. The only known species of this genus is
Muttaburrasaurus langdoni, found near its geographical namesake, the town of
Muttaburra,
Queensland,
Australia in 1981. Its discovery was significant in that it was the most complete dinosaur skeleton ever found on the Australian continent.
The Muttaburrasaurus was a large herbivore, growing to lengths of 7 to 9 meters and bearing a strong resemblance to Iguanodon. Its hind legs outsized its front legs, though it was versatile enough to stand on either two or four feet as the need arose. Although it was well adapted for grazing with its massive, powerful jaws, it also possessed some cutting teeth, which may have been an aid in chewing tougher vegetation but might also indicate some carnivorous tendencies that Iguanodon lacked. Another distinctive characteristic was a hollow, bony knob atop its snout, which may have served to amplify its voice.
Order: Ornithischia
Suborder: Ornithopoda
Infraorder: Iguanodontia
Family: Iguanodontidae