Several varieties of these plant-eaters have been identified.
Many fossils found here, such as the small ornithopod Leaellynasaura , show large eye sockets, suggesting they were adapted to see in the long, dark polar winters. Major Fossil Discoveries: Dinosaur Cove
At the time, the area was part of a great rift valley formed as Australia began to separate from Antarctica. It served as a floodplain with ancient stream beds that now act as repositories for small animal bones. Several varieties of these plant-eaters have been identified
The site is noted for the extreme physical and logistical challenges of its excavation, which required mining-style techniques rather than traditional surface digging. The 700 | Article | Museums Victoria It served as a floodplain with ancient stream
The fossil-bearing strata at Dinosaur Cove date back approximately 106 to 110 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous.
A small coelurosaur tentatively allied with tyrannosauroids; its bones show "lines of arrested growth," hinting it may have hibernated during cold months.
The fossils are primarily found in the Eumeralla Formation , specifically within the Otway Group sediments. 2. Paleontological Significance