Artists impression of the last moments of the dinosaur. Credit: Trudie Wilson
Scientists in Southampton believe that four bones recently found on the Isle of Wight belong to a new species of theropod dinosaur.
A new study by Palaeontologists at the University of Southampton suggests that four bones recently found on the Isle of Wight belong to new species of theropod dinosaurs, the group that includes Tyrannosaurus rex and modern birds.
‘We were struck by how hollow this animal was – it’s full of airspace. Parts of the skeleton must have been quite delicate. ”- Chris Barker
The dinosaur lived in the Chalk period 115 million years ago and is estimated to have been up to four meters long.
The bones were discovered last year in the front house at Shanklin and are from the neck, back and tail of the new dinosaur, which has the name Vectaerovenator inopinatus.
The name refers to the large air spaces in some of the bones, one of the features that helped scientists identify the origin of theropod. These airways, also seen in modern birds, were extensions of the lung, and it is likely that they helped burn an efficient respiratory system while also making the skeleton lighter.
The fossils were found over a period of weeks in 2019 in three separate discoveries, two by individuals and one by a family group, all of whom submitted their finds to the nearby Dinosaur Isle Museum in Sandown.
The scientific study has confirmed that the fossils are probably of the same individual dinosaur, with the exact location and timing of the findings added to this belief.
Robin Ward, an ordinary fossil hunter from Stratford-upon-Avon, was visiting the Isle of Wight with his family when they made their discovery. He said: ‘The joy of finding the bones we discovered was absolutely fantastic. I thought they were special and so did they when we visited Dinosaur Isle Museum. They knew immediately that this was something rare and asked if we could donate them to the museum to be fully investigated. “
James Lockyer, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, was also visiting the island when he found another of the bones. He was also an ordinary fossil hunter, saying, ‘It looked different from marine reptile vertebrae I had encountered in the past. I was looking for a place near Shanklin and was told and read that I would not find much there. However, I always make sure I search the areas that others do not, and on this occasion it has paid off well. ”
Image of two of the bones. For further pictures please contact the University of Southampton. Credit: University of Southampton
Paul Farrell, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, added: ‘I walked across the beach, threw stones and came across what looked like a bone of a dinosaur. I was really shocked to find out that it could be a new species. ”
After studying the four vertebrae, paleontologists at the University of Southampton confirmed that the bones probably belonged to a species of dinosaur that was not previously scientific. Their findings will be published in the journal Papers in Palaeontology, in a paper co-authored by those who discovered the fossils.
Chris Barker, a PhD student at the university leading the study, said: “We were struck by just how hollow this animal was – it’s full of air spaces. Parts of the skeleton must have been rather delicate.
“The record of theropod dinosaurs from the ‘middle’ Cretaceous in Europe is not that great, so it has been really exciting to increase our understanding of the variety of dinosaur species from this time.
‘You don’t normally find dinosaurs in the deposits at Shanklin, because they were laid out in a marine habitat. You will often find fossil oysters as driftwood, so this is a rare find. “
It is likely that the Vectaerovenator lived in an area just north of where his remains were found, with the carcass washed in the shallow sea nearby.
Chris Barker added: ‘Although we have enough material to determine the general type of dinosaur, we would ideally like to find more to refine our analysis. We are very grateful for donating these fossils to science and for the important role that civic science can play in paleontology. ”
The Isle of Wight is famous as one of the top locations for dinosaur remains in Europe, and the new fossils of Vectaerovenator will now be on display in the Dinosaur Isle Museum in Sandown, which contains an internationally important collection.
Museum curator, Dr. Martin Munt, said: “This remarkable discovery of connected fossils by three different individuals and groups will add to the extensive collection we have, and it’s great that we can now confirm their meaning and display them to the public to to marvel at.
“We continue to conduct public field trips from the museum and encourage anyone who finds unusual fossils to bring them in so we can take a closer look. Fossil hunters, however, must remember to hang on to the forecourt, and avoid finding nearby cliffs that are among the most unstable on the island. “
Councilman John Hobart, a member of the Isle of Wight Council cabinet, said: “This is yet another amazing fossil find on the island that sheds light on our prehistoric past – even more so, that it is a completely new species. add to the many great items on display in the museum. ”
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Reference: August 11, 2020, Papers in Palaeontology.
A display explaining the new find will be on display in the museum’s main gallery from Wednesday 12 August. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, advance reservations are required for museum visitors by calling (01983) 404344.
The paper ‘A very pneumatic’ mid Chalk ‘theropod from the British Lower Greensand’ by Chris Barker and those who will discover the fossils will be published in Papers in Palaeontology. The authors and University of Southampton have made their findings ‘open access’.
