Research led by palaeontologists at the University of Southampton has identified the remains of one of Europe’s largest ever land-based hunters — a dinosaur that measured more than ten metres long and lived around 125 million years ago.
Several prehistoric bones, uncovered here on the Isle of Wight, belonged to a type of 2-legged, crocodile-faced predatory dinosaur known as spinosaurids.
Dubbed the ‘White Rock spinosaurid’ – after the geological layer in which it was found – it was a predator of impressive proportions. The bones of the ‘White Rock spinosaurid’, which include huge pelvic and tail vertebrae, among other pieces, were discovered near Compton Chine.
It is hoped the remains will go on public display at Dinosaur Isle, Sandown, in time for the school summer holidays.
Dr Martin Munt, the museum’s curator and general manager, said:
“Spinosaurs are amongst the most exciting and widely debated groups of dinosaurs; the museum has the remains of three different types which is unrivalled.”
PhD student Chris Barker, who led the study, said:
“This was a huge animal, exceeding ten metres in length and probably several tonnes in weight.
Article continues below this advertisement “Judging from some of the dimensions, it appears to represent one of the largest predatory dinosaur ever found in Europe – maybe even the biggest yet known.
“It’s a shame it’s only known from a small amount of material, but these are enough to show it was an immense creature.”
The discovery follows previous work on spinosaurids by the University of Southampton team, which published a study on the discovery of 2 new species in 2021.
How do they know it wasn’t just a normal Dinosaur which was eating a Crocodile when it was itself killed and its real head eaten or removed by another huge beast?
A few fragments of bone now stone surely is up for questioning ?
Hahaha … really ?!
It’s called science. They study hard and work hard, that is how they know.
Trust the science lmao
Hmmm.
Do I trust the opinion of professional paleontologist or some random carrot cruncher who’s worked out how to access the Internet?
Tough one.
My thoughts exactly curious,it seems to me that they are just guessing,all they’ve got is a few bones which could belong to anything
“it seems to me that they are just guessing” To an idiot science may seem like guessing. Just because you do not understand does not mean they do not know.
I thought the dinosaurs were dead. Clearly not, theres a few battling it out on here