Scientists have identified Invictibellatrix amberina, a new megaraptoran species, from a fossil acquired by the Natural History Museum in 1924. The discovery marks the first evidence of megaraptorans in Europe.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Scientists have identified a new species of predatory dinosaur, Invictibellatrix amberina, from a fossil that sat in the Natural History Museum archives for nearly a century. The partial braincase, acquired in 1924 from the Isle of Wight, has been confirmed as the first evidence of megaraptorans in Europe.
The fossil was originally discovered at the foot of a cliff on the south-west coast of the Isle of Wight by amateur palaeontologist Reginald Walter Tooley. It was acquired by the Natural History Museum in 1924, where its significance went unnoticed for decades. According to New Scientist, the fossil was acquired from a "Reverend Reginald Hooley," while The Mirror and Portsmouth News identify the finder as "Reginald Walter Tooley."
Dr Cassius Morrison, who led the research at University College London (UCL), stated that the fossil had been "sitting unstudied in the museum for about 100 years, which is very surreal." Morrison is now at the University of Leeds, according to New Scientist.
To identify the species, researchers used CT X-ray scans to create 3D models of the skull. They compared these models with other meat-eating dinosaurs, including tyrannosaurs, spinosaurs, and raptors. The team identified a unique combination of features, such as an oval opening where the spinal cord entered the brain and an hourglass-shaped crest, which helped distinguish the remains as a previously unknown species.
Invictibellatrix amberina belongs to the megaraptoran group, a family of agile, two-legged carnivores closely related to tyrannosaurs. The genus name Invictibellatrix translates to "unconquered female warrior," while the species name amberina references the amber found in the rocks where the fossil was uncovered.
Based on comparisons with its closest relatives, the researchers estimate the dinosaur measured between three and four metres long and stood just over 1.5 metres tall. It is believed to have weighed between 200 and 300 kilograms. The predator likely had feathers and powerful arms equipped with curved claws measuring 10 to 20 centimetres long.
Dr Morrison noted that the dinosaur would have occupied a role in the food chain similar to that of a hyena today, eating small dinosaurs, lizards, and mammals. "It was not the apex predator of its time, but for humans this dinosaur would have been more dangerous than a T.rex," Morrison said. "We would have been perfectly sized prey, about a third of their body weight."
Megaraptorans are thought to have originated in Asia. This discovery provides the first proof that the group was present in Europe, filling a significant gap in the understanding of their distribution. Study co-author Charlie Scherer stated, "This new species is the first proof we have that megaraptorans were also present in Europe and that they reached Gondwana this way rather than island-hopping further south."
The findings suggest that megaraptorans dispersed from Asia into Europe approximately 130 million years ago, before spreading to Africa, South America, and Australia. Jake Kotevski at Monash University in Melbourne noted that while the discovery expands the known range of the group, "more fossils are required to support or reject this hypothesis."
The identification of Invictibellatrix amberina highlights the scientific value of historical museum collections. Senior author Dr Paul Barrett stated, "Despite over 200 years of collecting, the Isle of Wight continues to surprise us with new dinosaur species, and finds of carnivorous dinosaurs, such as Invictibellatrix, have been particularly elusive." The research, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, demonstrates that significant paleontological discoveries can still be made from specimens that have been in institutional care for decades.
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This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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