Around 125 million years ago, a hitherto unidentified species of plant-eating dinosaur occupied an island off the south coast of England, according to new study.
Jeremy Lockwood, a main author of a study on the prehistoric monster and PhD researcher at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom, estimates that the dinosaur would have weighed around a ton and been the size of a huge American bison.
According to Lockwood, the dinosaur was most likely a herding animal based on fossilized footprints discovered next to the bone. He speculated that “Possibly large herds of these dinosaurs may have been thundering around if spooked by predators on the floodplains over 120 million years ago.”
According to study published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, the 149-bone dinosaur fossil was unearthed on the Isle of Wight in 2013 and is the most complete skeleton to be recovered in the United Kingdom in over a century.
Nick Chase, a passionate local fossil collector who passed away from cancer in 2019, discovered the bones.
“Nick had a phenomenal nose for finding dinosaur bones – he really was a modern-day Mary Anning,” Lockwood stated in a press release, making reference to the well-known paleontologist from the 19th century. “He collected fossils daily in all weathers and donated them to museums. I was hoping we’d spend our dotage collecting together as we were of similar ages, but sadly that wasn’t to be the case.”
Comptonatus chasei is the name given to this new species of dinosaur in honor of Chase and Compton Bay, where he discovered the bones.
Due to distinctive characteristics like its jaw and notably big pubic hip bone, the researchers were able to conclude that the skeleton belonged to a new dinosaur species.
“It helps us understand more about the different types of dinosaurs that lived in England in the Early Cretaceous,” Lockwood said, describing the discovery as “a remarkable find.”
The “extraordinary discovery” was hailed by Mike Greenslade, general manager of the Isle of Wight-based conservation charity, the National Trust.
In addition to highlighting the island’s palaeontological significance, Greenslade added, “Finding the most complete dinosaur in the UK in a century not only showcases the island’s palaeontological significance but also underscores the importance of preserving our landscapes for future generations to explore and learn from,”
He continued, “Nick Chase’s remarkable find and Jeremy Lockwood’s dedicated research are a testament to the incredible history waiting to be uncovered here,”