Fostoria dhimbangunmal
An Australian iguanodontian dinosaur named for its discoverer.
Fostoria dhimbangunmal is a genus of iguanodontian ornithopod dinosaur from the Griman Creek Formation of New South Wales, Australia. The type and only species, Fostoria dhimbangunmal, was described in 2019. The genus is named after Robert Foster, who discovered the type locality and bones, and the specific name means 'sheep yard' in the languages of the Yuwaalaraay, Yuwaalayaay, and Gamilaraay peoples of Australia.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Fostoria
- Type Species
- Fostoria dhimbangunmal
- Type Species Authority
- Bell et al., 2019
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In 1984, Bob Foster, an opal miner, discovered a vertebra from an ornithopod in Lightning Ridge. Foster originally interpreted the fossil as a hoof belonging to a horse. He eventually found so many fossils in his mine that he showed his finds to paleontologists of the Australian Museum in Sydney. After they examined the Fostoria fossils, paleontologist Alexander Ritchie, with some army reservists, traveled to the mine to excavate more fossils. The fossils were prepared but remained unstudied until 2015. Foster later removed the finds from a private opal museum and exhibited them in, and later donated them to the Australian Opal Centre in Lightning Ridge, where they remain to this day.
Reader's Guide
Fostoria dhimbangunmal is significant as a genus of iguanodontian ornithopod dinosaur from the Griman Creek Formation of New South Wales, Australia, described in 2019. Its classification has been subject to differing analyses: the describing authors placed it as the most basal of a clade comprising Anabisetia, Muttaburrasaurus, and Talenkauen, based on synapomorphies such as frontals contacting less than 25% of the orbit and paroccipital processes extending laterally. However, a later study using the same matrix found Fostoria within Rhabdodontomorpha, sharing features like a nearly vertical suture between its supraoccipital and opisthotics. This uncertainty highlights ongoing debates in dinosaur phylogeny. The species' name honors the Yuwaalaraay, Yuwaalayaay, and Gamilaraay peoples, reflecting cultural recognition. Its discovery by an opal miner and eventual donation to the Australian Opal Centre underscores the role of amateur collectors in paleontology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fostoria dhimbangunmal?
It is a genus of iguanodontian ornithopod dinosaur known from a single species, formally described in 2019. It represents one of the few ornithopod dinosaurs identified from Australian fossil sites.
Where was Fostoria dhimbangunmal discovered?
Its fossils come from the Griman Creek Formation in New South Wales, Australia. This makes it one of the better-documented ornithopods recovered from the Australian continent.
Who is Fostoria named after, and what does the species name mean?
The genus honors Robert Foster, the person who originally located the type locality and the fossil bones. The species epithet 'dhimbangunmal' translates to 'sheep yard' in the Yuwaalaraay, Yuwaalayaay, and Gamilaraay languages of the local Aboriginal peoples.
When was Fostoria dhimbangunmal officially described?
The species was formally named and published in 2019. It remains the only known species within the genus Fostoria.
What makes Fostoria dhimbangunmal significant in paleontology?
It is classified as a basal iguanodontian, placing it near the base of the iguanodontian family tree. As an ornithopod from Australia, it adds to the still-limited record of herbivorous dinosaurs known from the Southern Hemisphere.
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