A remarkable fossil unearthed near Richmond, Queensland, has provided the earliest confirmed indication that an ichthyosaur preyed on a pterosaur, only to be consumed later by the massive marine reptile Kronosaurus queenslandicus. The discovery, detailed in the journal Gondwana Research, preserves a rare glimpse into predator-prey dynamics from over 100 million years in the past.
Scientists highlight this exceptional find as a direct snapshot of ancient food web interactions within the Eromanga Sea, shedding light on behavior rather than just fossilized remains. This specimen uniquely documents a three-level feeding hierarchy in a single fossil, a phenomenon never clearly recorded before.
While fossils that capture stomach contents happen occasionally, those that also show evidence of the predator being attacked or scavenged are extraordinarily scarce. This makes the Queensland specimen an invaluable resource for understanding marine reptile interactions during the Lower Cretaceous period.
According to Dinosaur Experiences Australia, the fossil represents Platypterygius australis, an ichthyosaur with a dolphin-like form measuring around six to seven meters in length. The research team paired conventional fossil conservation techniques with cutting-edge imaging to investigate the fossil’s interior without causing damage.
Inside the Fossil: A Surprising Dietary Discovery
Key clues emerged from several fossilized rock nodules found behind the ichthyosaur’s head. Instead of physically breaking them open, scientists turned to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), where synchrotron CT scans revealed the contents concealed within.
The published analysis in Gondwana Research disclosed fish bones, fragments of squid-like belemnites, shells, and notably, pieces of a flying reptile’s jaw. These remains were identified as those of a pterosaur, marking the first irrefutable proof of an ichthyosaur consuming one of these ancient flyers.
“I was amazed by the size of the ichthyosaur, and shocked to see it littered with bite marks and partially exposed pterosaur remains behind the skull,” said lead author Dr. Matt White, Research Associate at the University of New England.
Bite Wounds Provide Clues to the Predator Puzzle
The fossil reveals more than just the ichthyosaur’s last meal. Its skeleton shows extensive bite wounds, multiple crushed bones, and missing fragments, indicating it was itself attacked by a different predator.
An official statement from Dinosaur Experiences Australia clarifies that this damage fits the feeding or scavenging behaviors of Kronosaurus queenslandicus, a formidable pliosaur and apex predator of Australia's Cretaceous inland sea. Paleontologist Dr. Dean Lomax, a contributor to the study, commented;
“It’s one of the clearest examples ever discovered of a three-tier predator interaction and offers an unprecedented snapshot of behavior in Australia’s Cretaceous seas. This extraordinary fossil records a trophic interaction between a pterosaur eaten by an ichthyosaur that was then partly consumed by a giant pliosaur. It gives us direct evidence of behavior in the Eromanga Sea.”
The researchers emphasize that the preserved stomach remains and predator-induced damage provide a rare and detailed record of a food chain involving a pterosaur, an ichthyosaur, and a kronosaurus consolidated in a single artifact.
How a 'Bag of Bones' Led to a Groundbreaking Discovery
The journey began in August 2019, when Mike and Cathy Freeman along with Gary and Barb Flewelling uncovered large fossil fragments at a public fossicking location near Richmond. These bones were gathered informally in bags and gained the nickname B.O.B., standing for “Bag of Bones.”
After three years, Kevin Petersen, curator of the Kronosaurus Korner Museum, returned to the site to find the remainder of the fossil. This revealed a nearly articulated ichthyosaur stretching close to eight meters long within the excavation.
“More than 600 volunteer and staff hours were invested preparing the specimen before several unusual rock nodules behind the skull prompted scientists to investigate further,” as reported by Dinosaur Experiences Australia.
The fully prepared fossil is now curated at the Kronosaurus Korner Museum, while Australian paleoartist Peter Trusler collaborated closely with the team to produce the scientific illustrations featured in the published study.
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