Australia’s most intact Cooyoo australis fossil discovered in Richmond with specimen in its belly
The fossil of a predator fish that existed more than 100 million years ago has been discovered in north-west Queensland.
Experts believe it is one Australia’s most intact fossils of the Cooyoo australis fish — a large carnivore that once swam Queensland’s inland Eromanga Sea.
The head of the cooyoo fossil would have been lined with sharp teeth.(Supplied: Kronosaurus Korner)
It turns out fish was on the menu for this cooyoo.
“When you get a close-up view of the specimen, you can see the little vertebrae, you can see a small fish head and some other remains of a fish in the area where the cooyoo’s stomach would have been,” Mr Ievers said.
A smaller fish fossil can be seen inside the belly of the cooyoo.(Supplied: Kronosaurus Korner)
He said the tidal nature of the Eromanga Sea and the presence of other carnivores meant it was rare to find a whole specimen.
“Because, when these things died, this sea was tidal so there was movement and these fish got displaced through the natural process of rotting and with other animals feeding off them,” Mr Ievers said.
A beastly sight
With a gaping underbite lined in conical teeth and a bull-dog head, the Cooyoo australis had a face only a mother could love.
Cooyoo had large conical teeth within deep jaws, used for swallowing prey whole.(Supplied: Kronosaurus Korner)
Several sets of fins, a long body, and forked tail would have helped it torpedo through the water, threatened only by large marine reptiles and sharks.
One of the largest semi-articulated cooyoo specimens was discovered by Gary and Barb Flewelling and Anthony Saffioti in 2011 in Richmond.
The 2.5-metre long fossil nicknamed “Wandah” is currently on display at Kronosaurus Korner.
Gary Flewelling lies next to a 2.5-metre cooyoo fossil nicknamed “Wandah”.(Supplied: Gary and Barb Fewelling)