I am the Senior Curator of Palaeontology at JCU and the Museum of Tropical Queensland in Townsville. I have a special interest in the diversity, evolution and ecology of Mesozoic reptiles, such as ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and dinosaurs. Current projects, involving fieldwork throughout Australia, aim to fill significant gaps in our knowledge and understanding of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous vertebrate fauna in the southern hemisphere.

Previously I have been involved in pioneering work on Jurassic and Cretaceous marine faunas of the High Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard, and in fieldwork in The Netherlands (Triassic) and USA (Cretaceous).

If you are interested in doing either a Bachelor or Masters project in vertebrate palaeontology, please contact me. Currently I have projects in the following topics (although others can be discussed): 

Early Triassic vertebrates from central Queensland

Cretaceous marine reptiles from Queensland

Micro-vertebrate diversity in the Early Cretaceous Toolebuc Formation, Queensland

Triassic trace fossil fauna in central Queensland

Teaching

• EA3120: The Fossil Record: Dinosaurs and Vertebrates Through Time (Level 3; TSV)
• EA5120: The Fossil Record: Dinosaurs and Vertebrates Through Time (Level 5; TSV)
• MB1110: Introductory Marine Science (Level 1; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Palaeontology, Vertebrates, Dinosaurs, Marine Reptiles, Arctic, Biogeography, Australia, Biodiversity, Evolution

Experience

• 2008 to 2012 - PhD, University of Oslo (Norway)
• 2005 to 2007 - MSc, University of Oslo (Norway)
• 2002 to 2005 - BSc, University of Oslo (Norway)

Research Disciplines

• Geology (3705)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Expanding knowledge (2801)
• Fresh, ground and surface water systems and management (1803)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Foley E, Roberts E, Henderson R, Todd C, Knutsen E and Spandler C (2022) Middle Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous stratigraphy of the northern Great Australian Superbasin: insights from maximum depositional age constraints from the U–Pb detrital zircon record. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 69 (7). pp. 929-952
• Foley E, Roberts E and Knutsen E (2022) Deciphering Late Cretaceous palaeo-river catchments in eastern Australia: recognition of distinct northern and southern drainage basins. Basin Research, 34 (2). pp. 590-617
• Foley E, Henderson R, Roberts E, Kemp A, Todd C, Knutsen E, Fisher C, Wainman C and Spandler C (2021) Jurassic Arc: reconstructing the lost world of eastern Gondwana. Geology, 49 (11). pp. 1391-1396
• Foley E, Roberts E, Knutsen E and Hannaford C (2021) Cryptic Middle to Late Jurassic marine incursions into northeastern Gondwana: an integrated sedimentological, ichnological and geochronological approach. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 569.
• Foley E, Baty M, Knutsen E, Lignum J and Roberts E (2020) Jurassic - Early Cretaceous paleogeography and paleoenvironments of the north-eastern margin of Gondwana: insights from the Carpentaria Basin, Australia. Gondwana Research, 88. pp. 126-149
• Knutsen E and Oerlemans E (2020) The last dicynodont? Re-assessing the taxonomic and temporal relationships of a contentious Australian fossil. Gondwana Research, 77. pp. 184-203
• Todd C, Roberts E, Knutsen E, Rozefelds A, Huang H and Spandler C (2019) Refined age and geological context of two of Australia’s most important Jurassic vertebrate taxa (Rhoetosaurus brownei and Siderops kehli), Queensland. Gondwana Research, 76. pp. 19-25
• Hammer Ø, Hryniewicz K, Hurum J, Høyberget M, Knutsen E and Nakrem H (2013) Large onychites (cephalopod hooks) from the Upper Jurassic of the Boreal Realm. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 58 (4). pp. 827-835
• Druckenmiller P and Knutsen E (2012) Phylogenetic relationships of Upper Jurassic (Middle Volgian) plesiosaurians (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the Agardhfjellet Formation of central Spitsbergen, Norway. Norwegian Journal of Geology, 92. pp. 277-284
• Druckenmiller P, Hurum J and Knutsen E (2012) Two new ophthalmosaurids (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria) from the Agardhfjellet Formation (Upper Jurassic: Volgian/Tithonian), Svalbard, Norway. Norwegian Journal of Geology, 92. pp. 311-339
• Hurum J, Nakrem H, Hammer Ø, Knutsen E, Druckenmiller P, Hryniewicz K and Novis L (2012) An arctic lagerstätte – the slottsmøya member of the Agardhfjellet formation (Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous) of Spitsbergen. Norwegian Journal of Geology, 92. pp. 55-64
• Knutsen E (2012) A taxonomic revision of the genus Pliosaurus (Owen, 1841a) Owen, 1841b. Norwegian Journal of Geology, 92. pp. 259-276

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 18+ research outputs authored by Dr Espen Knutsen from 2011 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Palaeoenvironment and palaeovalley gold provenance of the Lefroy Palaeodrainage System, Western Australia and its implications for future placer gold exploration. (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Jurassic Arc? Reconstructing the Lost World of Eastern Australia (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Vertebrate Palaeontology of the Early-Late Triassic Succession in Central Queensland (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Completed

• Sedimentology, stratigraphy, and tectonic reconstruction of the northern Great Australian Superbasin (2022, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.