Austrosaurus

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Austrosaurus

ZooTek Phoenix

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Author: Moondawg

Keywords: extinct animals, dinoasaurs

Release Date: Nov 30 2008

Current AustrosaurusMD_2008.ztd dated 28 November 2008

File Size: 10.12mb

Compatibility: DD and CC

Description: Austrosaurus (meaning "Southern lizard") was a sauropod dinosaur from the Winton Formation, from the early Cretaceous (98-95 Million Years ago) of Central-Western Queensland in Australia.
The remains were discovered by Mr. H.B. Wade on Clutha Station near Maxwelton in north Queensland in 1932, who alerted the station manager H. Mackillop, who showed his brother who sent them to the Queensland Museum. Austrosaurus was described by Heber Longman in 1933.

In 1999 on a property near Winton in central-western Queensland, Australia, grazier Dave Elliott found a sauropod femur belonging to what turned out to be the largest dinosaur discovered in Australia to that date, which was nicknamed 'Elliot'. At the Winton find, a right femur and portions of several ribs have so far been uncovered. A smaller sauropod, nicknamed 'Mary', after Dr Mary Wade, has also been uncovered. Early indications are that they are closely related to Austrosaurus mackillopi and either in the same or closely related genus.

On 3 May 2007, bones from the remains of two huge titanosaurs which were uncovered in 2004 near Eromanga in south-west Queensland went on display at the Queensland Museum, in Brisbane. This find was described by the ABC news service as the largest bones now discovered to date in Australia, eclipsing 'Elliot'.

Originally it was thought that the Austrosaurus had a tendency to spend time near or in water to relieve weight from their legs. However, this theory is now rejected and it is thought that the Austrosaurus preferred hard, dry land. Fossil finds suggest a height of approximately 3.9 metres at the hip and 4.1 metres at the shoulder, which would have given it an almost level back.

Initially, Austrosaurus was considered a cetiosaurid, like Patagosaurus or Shunosaurus. However, a recent reappraisal of material by Ralph Molnar has found that it, and the newer remains of 'Eliot', are titanosaurid, as various features on the vertebrae show.

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Additional info:

AustrosaurusMD_2008.ztd                                    uca: FD3B1026 dated 28 November 2008

Results From Configuration Checking:

fd3b1026.uca date: Fri Nov 28 22:44:42 2008
No Errors or Warnings to show.
Animal Type: FD3B1026

Austrosaurus

The remains were discovered by Mr. H.B. Wade on Clutha Station near Maxwelton
in north Queensland in 1932, who alerted the station manager H. Mackillop, who
showed his brother who sent them to the Queensland Museum. Austrosaurus was
described by Heber Longman in 1933.
    (plus 4 other paragraphs)

Animal Characteristics:

Habitat: Deciduous Forest; Location: Europe; Era: Triassic
Minimum happiness needed for chance of breeding: 97.
Animal can jump.
Animal can climb cliffs.
Cannot be used in original Zoo Tycoon: cKeeperFoodType (8) is not 0 to 5.

Exhibit Preferences:

Foliage:
Wild Olive Tree, Elm Tree, Pacific Dogwood Tree, Cherry Tree, Maple Tree
Thornless Mesquite Tree, Birch Tree, Trembling Aspen Tree, Globe Willow Tree
Japanese Maple Tree, Deciduous Bush, Weeping Willow Tree, White Oak Tree
Broadleaf Bush, Gingko Tree (DD), Glossopteris Tree (DD), Magnolia Tree (DD)
Monkey Puzzle Tree (DD), Bonsai (CC), Snowbell Tree (CC)

Rocks:
Large Rock, Large Rock - 1, Large Rock - 2, Large Rock - 3, Large Rock - 4
Small Rock - Medium, Small Rock - Small, Small Rock - 7, Small Rock - 8
Small Rock - 9, Deciduous Forest Rock - Formation

Exhibit Construction:

Number of animals allowed per exhibit: 1-3 with 80 squares for each adult.

Exhibit size (for 2 adults): 160 grid squares

Terrain (for exhibit with 160 grid squares):
104 Deciduous Floor, 16 Dirt, 16 Fresh Water, 24 Grass

Foliage (for exhibit with 160 grid squares):
10 grid squares should contain foliage.
Foliage that would give the most happiness: Magnolia Tree (DD)
Since this is a small plant, greatest happiness will occur
if each of the 10 grid squares contains 4 of this plant.

Rocks (for exhibit with 160 grid squares):
13 Small Rock - Small, which is its most liked rock.