A new species of dinosaur that was four times the size of a king size bed roamed the Isle of Wight 125 million years ago, fossil analysis has revealed.
Brighstoneus simmondsi is the latest in a host of new dinosaur discoveries described by scientists at the Natural History Museum in recent weeks.
It follows the announcement of a new species of ankylosaur, therapod and two new spinosaur dinosaurs.
The latest discovery is an iguanodontian, a group that also includes the Iguanodon and Mantellisaurus.
Fossil analysis revealed that 125 million years ago an entirely new type of dinosaur inhabited the Isle of Wight. It was four times as large as a bed for a King. Brighstoneus simmondsi can be seen
The new dinosaur, an iguanodontian (pictured), is a member of the Iguanodontian family.
Brighstoneus simmondsi, which had 28 teeth was found (pictured). Also, it had a bulbous nose. Mantellisaurus (and the Iguanodon) have straight noses.
Until now, iguanodontian material found on the Isle of Wight has usually been linked to one of these two dinosaurs, but when a University of Portsmouth PhD student examined a fossil specimen found 43 years ago he came across several unique traits distinguishing it from either the Iguanodon and Mantellisaurus.
Dr. Jeremy Lockwood stated, “For me, it was a sign that there were many teeth.”
Mantellisaurus may have 23 to 24, while this one has 28. Also, it had a bulbous nasal structure. The other species are more straight-nosed.
“All things considered, this and some other minor differences make it very obvious that it is a new species.”
This herbivorous dinosaur measured 26 feet (8m) in height and weighed approximately 2,000lbs (990kg).
It has been named Brighstoneus simmondsi after the village of Brighstone, near to the excavation site where the fossil was found, and Keith Simmonds, who made the discovery of the specimen in 1978.
Experts think the discovery and subsequent classification of the new species suggest that there was more evidence for iguanodontian dinosaurs in the UK during the Early Cretaceous.
These men also said that it was necessary to change the way they assigned specimens of this period either Iguanodon, Mantellisaurus.
Dr Lockwood stated that he was looking at deposits of six or seven million years.
“If this is the case, then we might be able to see many new species.”
“It is so unlikely that two animals could be the same over millions of years with no change.”
Susannah Maidment is a coauthor of the paper. She’s also a Natural History Museum scientist.
“It also shows that the centuries-old belief that large iguanodontian elements and gracile bones from iguanodontian bone found on an island belonged to Mantellisaurus cannot be supported.”
Long-standing associations with dinosaur research have been made to the Isle of Wight. The island even produced the critical specimens which led Sir Richard Owen’s creation of the term Dinosauria.
University of Portsmouth doctoral student Dr. Jeremy Lockwood looked at a fossil specimen that was found 43 years back and discovered characteristics that distinguish it from Mantellisaurus or Iguanodon.
It measured approximately 26 ft (8 m) in height and weighed around 2,000 lbs (990 kg).
Experts believe that the new species is a sign there may have been more iguanodontian dinosaurs in Britain during the Early Cretaceous. The jaw of the dinosaur is shown in this image
These authors concluded that Brighstoneus Simmondsi being described as a novel species necessitates a review of Isle of Wight’s dinosaur fossils.
Dr Lockwood stated that British dinosaurs were not something to be done.
“I believe we could be on the cusp of a revival.”
A 29-foot long dinosaur, one of the two previously undiscovered dinosaur species, was discovered on the Isle of Wight in September.
Near Brighstone island, remains of carnivorous reptiles with skulls resembling crocodiles were found.
Ceratosuchops Inferodios is the more dangerous of the two. This refers to Ceratosuchops crocodile faced hell heron.
Although herons are known for catching aquatic prey at the edges of waterways’, their diet can also include terrestrial prey.
Riparovenator minerae was the second, and it was named after Angela Milner (a British paleontologist who recently died).
The Isle of Wight was home to a new dinosaur species, the 29-foot-long dinosaur.
A new study also suggested that one of T.Rex’s ancient ancestors may not have been quite so scary, and was actually just the size of a chicken (artist’s impression pictured)
In the same month, researchers at the Natural History Museum found a strange armoured spike fossil in Morocco that belonged to an entirely new dinosaur species.
A series of spikes were found in the fossil that fused to its rib. This is unusual for an ankylosaur as the bone would normally be attached to the skin tissue.
Ankylosaurs was a group of armoured dinosaurs that were related to the Stegosaurs. They were found throughout the Cretaceous period, which occurred between 145 and 66 millions years ago.
Last month, a new study also suggested that one of T.Rex’s ancient ancestors may not have been quite so scary, and was actually just the size of a chicken.
The remains of this creature were discovered by researchers from the University of Birmingham and the Natural History Museum in Pant-y-ffynnon, southern Wales.
The dinosaur, dubbed Pendraig milnerae, was a theropod — a group which also includes T.Rex — and lived between 200 and 215 million years ago.
Journal of Systematic Palaeontology published the new discovery about the Isle of Wight.