The world’s oldest example of a particular type of giant flying reptile has been found on the Isle of Wight by a fossil enthusiast.
During the Cretaceous period, the Isle of Wight was dominated by the enormous dinosaurs and flying pterosaurs. A fossil of part of a Coloborhynchus – the first of its kind to have been discovered on the Island – was spotted by Will Thurbin from Niton. It is thought to be around 125 million years old.
Although remains of the Coloborhynchus were originally found in Hastings, this is the first definite appearance on the Isle of Wight.
The fossilised rostrum – or snout – of the Coloborhynchus was confirmed after Will took it to staff at Dinosaur Isle Museum in Sandown, who worked with Dr Dave Martill at the University of Portsmouth to identify it. Will has since donated the fossil to the museum where it is now on display.
Will said:
“When I picked it up it was triangular in shape and looked different to other fossils I have found in the past.
“I decided to take it home and have a good look and could see that it was a bone and that there were some teeth in it.
Article continues below this advertisement I decided to take it Dinosaur Isle to see if they knew what it was and it is great they have since confirmed it as a new type of fossil for the Island.”
Councillor Shirley Smart, Isle of Wight Council Executive member for economy and tourism, added:
“This find further affirms the importance of dinosaur enthusiasts and their ability to help our knowledge of science progress.
“Without the dedication of people such as Will, Dinosaur Isle Museum would not have many of the fossils in the collections that it does. It also helps experts gain a better understanding of what these huge creatures were like.”
The fossil can be found on display at Dinosaur Isle, with more photos and information on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dinosaurisle.
Photographs: IW Council/Dinosaur Isle
