QUESTION: 
How many dinosaur fossils were found on Antarctica?

           From Alex, Meghan, and Mrs.Young's Class
                Lake Forest, California

ANSWER from Scott Borg, Program Director, Office of Polar Programs
            Antarctic Geology & Geophysics Program        
            National Science Foundation
            Tue, 11 Feb 1997 12:25:05 -0500 (EST)  


Dear Alex, Meghan, and Mrs. Young's students,

This is not an easy question to answer.  Many bones have been found
indicating that many reptiles, mammal-like reptiles, and dinosaurs existed
in Antarctica.  However, compared to other continents there have been many
many fewer dinosaur discoveries on Antarctica because Antarctica is so
remote.  I don't think anyone knows the exact number.

Lystrosaurus was a reptile that inhabited India, Africa, and Antarctica (and
possiblly South America).  It lived before the true dinosaurs.

Plesiosaurs and mosasours have been found.  These were free-swimming reptiles.

At least one leg bone of a pterasour was found in the mid 1980's in the
central part of the Transantarctic Mountains.  Also, some bones of plant
eating dinosaurs have been found (see below).

As far as I know, only one large carnivorous dinosaur is known from
Antarctica.  It is called Cryolophosaurus (frozen crested lizard) (see
National Geographic Magazine, October 1994) and it was found in the mid
1980's.  The skull was found with rib bones from a plant eating dinosaur
stuck between the jaw and the back of the throat.  This animal may have
choked to death while eating another dinosaur.  Cryolophosaurus is special
because it means that there must have been many smaller animals and lots of
plants around, otherwise there would not have been enough food for a large
carnivore.  Also, theropod dinosaurs like Cryolophosaurus are rare in the
southern hemisphere so this find will help paleontologists to understand how
dinosaurs evolved and where they travelled.

I hope this helps.
Cheers, 

Scott