Australia's largest dinosaur unveiled

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2007

SYDNEY (AFP) — The fossilised bones of Australia's largest dinosaur went on display Thursday, with experts predicting the find will rewrite what is known of the country's prehistoric past.

The two dinosaurs, nicknamed Cooper and George by researchers, are part of the titanosaur family that lived about 100 million years ago, and at 25 metres (yards) long were among the largest animals to ever roam the Earth.

They were found in 2005 and 2006 about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) west of Brisbane, but kept secret as scientists painstakingly dug them up and studied them.

"They are titanosaurs, which are plant-eating dinosaurs with extremely long necks and tails, massive bodies and elephant-like legs," Queensland state's Arts Minister Rod Welford said.

He...