New dinosaur species identified from Isle of Wight fossil
A new dinosaur species has been identified from a skull fragment found on the Isle of Wight over 100 years ago. It is the first megaraptoran ever found in Europe, providing key evidence on how these predators migrated from Asia to the southern landmass of Gondwana.
What happened
- Earlier
Amateur palaeontologist Reginald Walter Tooley finds a fossil at the base of a cliff on the Isle of Wight [1].
- 1924
The Natural History Museum acquires the fossil [1], [2].
- 15 Oct, 2026
A UCL-led team publishes a paper in Royal Society Open Science identifying the fossil as a new species, Invictibellatrix amberina [1], [3].
What you need to know
It was a two-legged carnivore about the size of a large tiger, reaching 3 to 4 metres in length [1], [2].
Unlike tyrannosaurs, it used giant curved claws and large arms to hunt rather than its jaws [1], [2].
The species lived roughly 120 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period [1], [3].
It likely had feathers and ate mammals, lizards, and small dinosaurs [1], [2].
It is not confirmed why megaraptors eventually disappeared from the north, though it may be due to environmental changes or competition [1].
Background
Megaraptorans are a mysterious group of agile meat-eaters related to tyrannosaurs. While some species became massive apex predators, Invictibellatrix was one of the smallest and earliest known members of the group [1], [2].
The identification was made using CT scans to create 3D models of the skull and brain. Researchers spotted a unique hourglass-shaped crest and an oval hole for the spinal cord to confirm it was a new species [2], [3].
Questions people ask
What does the name Invictibellatrix mean?
It means "unconquered female warrior," which refers to the future role of megaraptorans as apex predators [1], [2].
Why was the fossil not identified sooner?
Researchers described it as a mystery why the skull fragment was overlooked in a museum drawer for nearly 100 years [1], [2].
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.