Amateur fossil hunter uncovers near-complete ichthyosaur skeleton in western Queensland
A 7.1-metre, roughly 90% intact marine reptile fossil found on a neighbour’s property is described as one of Australia’s most scientifically valuable discoveries
An amateur fossil enthusiast has discovered what experts are calling the most complete ichthyosaur skeleton ever found in Australia, unearthing the specimen on a neighbour’s property in western Queensland.
Cassandra Prince, a local landowner, found a small bone protruding from the ground about 100 kilometres south of McKinlay on Toolebuc Station. Subsequent assessment by palaeontologists determined the skeleton to be roughly 7.1 metres long and about 90% intact — a level of preservation that researchers said makes it one of the most scientifically valuable marine fossils found in the country.
Ichthyosaurs were marine reptiles that resembled large dolphins; some species reached the size of cars while others grew as long as modern humpback whales. The group first appeared in the Triassic period and persisted through the Jurassic into the Cretaceous. Internationally, some ichthyosaur specimens have reached far larger sizes — a fossil found in British Columbia in the early 1990s was measured at about 21 metres.
Palaeontologist Adele Pentland, who has worked on marine reptile material from the region, said the Queensland find was remarkable for its completeness and the quality of skeletal articulation. The level of preservation could provide scientists with detailed information about the animal’s anatomy, growth and the ancient ecosystems it inhabited.
The area where the fossil was found is now dry, dusty Outback, but during the Mesozoic it lay beneath the Eromanga Sea, an inland body of water that covered much of what is now inland eastern Australia. Sediments deposited in that sea have yielded a number of marine reptile and fish fossils over decades of fieldwork, but near-complete skeletons are uncommon.
Local reports said Prince recognised the exposed bone and alerted experts, setting in motion a careful excavation process. Specialists typically document, map and stabilise fragile material in situ before removal, followed by laboratory preparation to reveal fine anatomical detail. Those steps are necessary to preserve context and maximize the research value of the specimen.
Scientists said the find could help clarify aspects of ichthyosaur biology and their diversity in Australian waters. Because relatively few complete marine reptile skeletons have been recovered intact in the region, a specimen of this completeness offers an unusually rich source of data on skeletal structure, potential soft-tissue impressions and, where preserved, clues about diet and life history.
The discovery underscores the scientific potential of Australia’s Mesozoic rock record and the role that landowners and amateur fossil enthusiasts often play in bringing significant finds to light. Researchers and museum staff will continue assessment and conservation work at the site, and further study of the specimen is expected to follow as preparation progresses.