Long-necked dino species discovered firstly in Australia

Scientists unveiled fossils on Thursday from a new species of giant, long-necked dinosaur unearthed in northeast Australia, speculating that its ancestors had trekked across Antarctica some 105 million years ago.

At least 14 metres from head-to-tail, Savannasaurus elliottorum was a plant-chomping, barrel-chested member of the sauropod group, which includes the largest land animals to ever have roamed the planet.

The discovery, along with a specimen of another sauropod called Diamantinasaurus matildae, was detailed in the Nature journal Scientific Reports. Palaeontologists have nicknamed the two dinosaurs Wade and Matilda. Both species are thought to be unique to Australia. How and when these and other dinosaurs made it Down Under is a source of ongoing debate, and the new find will add fuel to the fire.