Scientists discover new dinosaur species with ‘eye-catching sail used for mating’
New dinosaur species discovered on the Isle of Wight
- A new iguanodontian dinosaur species, Istiorachis macaruthurae, has been identified from fossils discovered on the Isle of Wight.
- The species was identified by PhD student Jeremy Lockwood, who named it after the island's famous sailor, Dame Ellen MacArthur.
- This dinosaur is characterised by a distinctive "eye-catching sail" along its back and tail, a feature previously unnoticed in the fossils.
- Researchers suggest the sail-like structure was likely used for visual signalling, possibly as a sexual display to attract mates or intimidate rivals.
- The discovery, published in Papers in Palaeontology, underscores the importance of re-examining existing fossil collections and expands our knowledge of Early Cretaceous ecosystems in the UK.