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Australian Scientists Identify 3 New Dinosaur Species

04 July 2009

Scientists in Australia say they have discovered three new species of dinosaurs.

The dinosaurs include two huge plant-eaters and a carnivore.  They were named Banjo, Matilda and Clancy in honor of the Australian folk ballad tradition.

The fossils found in the northeastern state of Queensland date back about 98 million years.

Plant eaters Matilda and Clancy belong to the giant titanosaur family.  Flesh-eating Banjo (named after poet Banjo Paterson, the author of Australia's best known song "Waltzing Matilda")  is a theropod. 
 
Australian scientists have hailed the discovery, saying it will spur more research into the country's past.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.


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