Theropod dinosaur from Western Australia 
145 
ornithomimosaurs (Barsbold et al. 1990; Currie 
1990; Barsbold and Osmolska 1990; Molnar et al. 
1990; Osmolska and Barsbold 1990; Ostrom 1990) 
and appears to match most closely the generalised 
form of a carnosaur proximal pedal phalanx. 
Comparison with Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurids 
is precluded largely by the absence of published 
information on the phalanges, although a cast of 
the Sternberg skeleton of Gorgosaurus libratus from 
Alberta in the Western Australian Museum, and 
the author's examination of the American Museum 
of Natural History Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, and 
of the mounted skeleton of Tarbosaurus bataar 
(touring Australia in 1993-1995 as part of The 
Great Russian Dinosaurs Exhibition) permits some 
observations to be noted. 
In Gorgosaurus the fourth digit proximal phalanx 
is much more elongated and the ventral margin of 
the shaft is more stongly concave than for the 
Gingin specimen. In Tyrannosaurus rex and 
Tarbosaurus bataar the fourth proximal phalanx is of 
quite robust, short proportions and is comparable 
in general form with that of Allosaurus or the 
Gingin specimen, differing principally by their 
larger size. 
Finally, one other theropod phalanx has a been 
described from Australia, an isolated element from 
Andamooka (Early Cretaceous, Aptian Marree 
Formation) refered to Kukuru kujani by Molnar and 
Pledge (1980). This specimen differs from the 
Gingin bone by its extremely slender shape with 
the distal and proximal faces of the bone being of 
approximately equal depth. Comparison with 
abelisaurids is difficult as few have shown 
preservation of the feet. The problematical 
theropod Noasaurus, from the Late Cretaceous of 
Argentina has one of the phalanges preserved. It is 
unusual in having deep flexor pits on the ventral 
surface rather than a flexor tubercle, and differs 
from the Gingin bone in this feature (Bonaparte 
and Powell 1980). 
In summary, the small phalanx from the Molecap 
Greensand (WAM 92.7.1) is here referred to an 
indeterminate theropod dinosaur, most likely a 
member of the Carnosauria having similarities to 
the Allosauridae. The latest recorded members of 
this family are Aptian-Albian, from Australia 
(Molnar et al. 1981), North America and Mongolia 
(Molnar et al. 1990). At this stage a determination 
to generic level is not possible until more theropod 
pes material is discovered. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
My sincere thanks must go to Michael Green for 
finding and donating the specimen to the W.A. 
Museum, and to Ralph Molnar for his helpful 
criticism of the draft manuscript. The organisers of 
the Dino Fest Conference held in Indianapolis, 
March 24-27th 1994, are thanked for funds 
allowing me to travel to the USA and examine 
dinosaur material in the American Museum of 
Natural History (New York), and the Field 
Museum, Chicago.Thanks to Kris Brimmell for the 
photography of the specimen. 
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