June 9 (Reuters) – Petrified bones found on a rocky beach on the English Isle of Wight are the remains of a carnivorous dinosaur that may be larger than any other known beast in Europe, a beast that was the cousin of the largest species. carnivorous dinosaur on record.
Paleontologists said Thursday they found parts of the skeleton of a dinosaur that lived about 125 million years ago during the Cretaceous, including bones in the back, thighs and tail, some limb fragments but no skull or teeth. Based on the partial remains, they estimated that the dinosaur exceeded 33 feet (10 meters) and may have reached much more.
“The specimen is impressive. It’s one of the largest – and probably the largest – known land predators to ever chase Europe,” said Chris Barker, a doctoral student in paleontology at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study. in PeerJ Life & Environment magazine.
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Based in part on a series of small depressions in the upper caudal vertebra, they concluded that it belonged to a group of dinosaurs called spinosaurs, including a spinosaurus that lived about 95 million years ago and is about 50 feet (15 meters) Long is considered to be the longest known dinosaur predator. Read more
Spinosaurs had elongated skulls resembling crocodiles with many conical teeth – ideal for catching slippery prey – as well as strong hands and large claws. They ate prey, as well as other dinosaurs.
Due to the incomplete nature of the remains, researchers have not yet given a scientific name to the newly described dinosaur, but call it “Spinosaurus of the White Rock” based on the geological layer where the bones were found. They believe it is not a member of any previously identified species.
The carnivorous dinosaurs belonged to a treasure called theropods, and each continent gave great examples. They were two-legged and the largest had massive skulls and strong teeth.
The artist’s illustration shows a large carnivorous dinosaur called Spinosaurus of the White Rock, whose remains, dating back to about 125 million years ago during the Cretaceous, were found on the English Isle of Wight, standing on a beach surrounded by flying reptiles called pterosaurs. Anthony Hutchings / Distribution via REUTERS.
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Spinosaurus was the largest in Africa. Tyrannosaurus Rex, approaching 42 feet (13 meters), was the king of North America, while the Gigantosaurus of the same size reigned in South America and the slightly smaller Tarbosaurus in Asia. The largest known theropod in Europe is Torvosaurus, about 33 feet (10 meters). Read more
The newly described dinosaur could be as long as T. rex, according to paleobiologist at the University of Southampton and study author Neil Gostling.
“This one is really big,” Gostling said. “Let’s hope more fossils appear. We’ll enjoy a skull or teeth.”
Examination of the teeth can help researchers better understand the position of this dinosaur in the family tree of the spinosaur.
Fossils have been observed on the surface along Compton Bay on the southwest coast of the Isle of Wight. The dinosaur inhabited a lagoon environment, also inhabited by various herbivorous dinosaurs and flying reptiles called pterosaurs. At that time the sea level was much higher than today and large parts of Europe were submerged.
The Isle of Wight has become one of the richest places in Europe for dinosaur remains. The same team of researchers last year announced the discovery of two other Cretaceous spinosaurs on the Isle of Wight, both about 30 feet (9 meters) long. Read more
These findings, combined with the latest, support their hypothesis that spinosaurs as a group originated and diversified in Western Europe before spreading elsewhere.
“This new material confirms our previous work, which highlights Europe as an important region for the diversification of spinosaurs,” Barker said.
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Report by Will Dunham in Washington; Edited by Lisa Shoemaker
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