The brain of Kunbarrasaurusis
similar to other ankylosaurs but does
exhibit some unique differences. The
ratio of its brain size to the total skull
length is almost double that of other
ankylosaurs and, like the inner ear,
some of the bones surrounding the
cavity aren’t fully ossiied. Compared
with other ankylosaurs, Kunbar-
rasaurus’ brain shape is primitive but
does have some more advanced
features, such as the angle of the pitu-
itary gland, which controls develop-
ment and the endocrine system. The
function of these features is yet to be
fully examined.
The Next Chapter
The assignment of a new genus and species, Kunbarrasaurus
ieversi,to the ankylosaur formerly known as Minmi sp. was
based on many signiicant differences that distinguish it from
other ankylosaurs. This study has not only provided an iden-
tity for one of Australia’s geotreasures but we’ve also been able
to conirm long-held uncertainties about unique ankylosaur
features –and raised new questions.
As part of my PhD, I’ve been working to uncover the details
of Kunbarrasaurusand other ankylosaur fossils from Queens-
land. The next phase of the project will be to investigate the
rest of the skeleton of Kunbarrasaurusand compare it with
the other Queensland ankylosaurs as well as those from around
the world.
For Australia, ankylosaurs are one of the most abundant
forms of dinosaurs we have evidence for, but unfortunately
they have remained mostly unstudied. Interestingly, however,
on other continents they form a small percentage of the known
dinosaur fauna.
Thus the Australian ankylosaurs are a key group in under-
standing the overall diversity of the group throughout the
world, but particularly within Gondwana. They may also, as
has been shown with Kunbarrasaurus, provide crucial insights
into the evolution of the group.
Lucy Leahey is a PhD candidate at The University of Queensland’s Vertebrate Palaeontology
& Biomechanics Lab. Kunbarrasaurus ieversiis on display at the Queensland Museum in
Brisbane. The original research article is available at https://peerj.com/articles/1475JUNE 2016|| 23An artistic reconstruction
of Kunbarrasaurus ieversi.
Image © of Big Island PicturesThe Eromanga Sea inundated large parts of eastern Australia several times between 125
and 95 million years ago. The skull of Kunbarrasaurus ieversi was unearthed from the
sediments of this sea in what is now the north-west of Queensland in 1990. Photograph © R. Molnar