Outback dinosaur officially one of largest discovered on record after new research paper released

A 30m dinosaur discovered in southwest Queensland more a decade ago has been officially named and confirmed as one of the world’s largest.

Dr Scott Hocknull with the 3D reconstruction and bone of 'Cooper's' humerus.

Southwest Queensland is officially home to one of the world’s largest dinosaurs with a new research paper finally naming a previously unknown titan discovered in the desert many years ago.

The 30m plant-eating sauropod, now called Australotitan cooperensis but nicknamed Cooper by researchers, was revealed by Eromanga Natural History Museum and Queensland Museum palaeontologists this week.

Cooper was discovered in 2007, but it took several years before he could be fully uncovered and identified.

Concept art showing the Australotitan cooperensis, which has been discovered and named in southwest Queensland, compared with a standard digger.

“The discovery of Australia’s largest dinosaur was totally unexpected and, as it has turned out, was just the tip of the iceberg of numerous significant dinosaur discoveries that have come since and continue to be made,” palaeontologist Robyn Mackenzie said.

Queensland Museum palaeontologist Dr Hocknull said Australotitan added to the growing list of uniquely Australian dinosaur species discovered in Outback Queensland.

For more, go to the website at enhm.com.au.