New megaraptoran dinosaur discovery in England

Researchers from University College London have identified a new species of megaraptoran dinosaur, named ‘Invictibellatrix amberina’, from a fossil that had remained unstudied in the Natural History Museum’s collection since 1924. The specimen, a fragment of a posterior skull, was originally excavated on the Isle of Wight in southern England by amateur collector Reginald Walter Tooley.

Living approximately 120 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous, this bipedal carnivore is described as an agile predator. While one estimate suggests a size of three to four meters, another describes it as being about 1.5 meters long. Unlike tyrannosaurs, this species utilized large, curved claws on slender arms to hunt prey such as mammals, lizards, and smaller dinosaurs. Scientists believe the creature may have been covered in feathers and occupied an ecological niche similar to a modern hyena.

The discovery was facilitated by modern technology, including CT scanning, which allowed for the examination of the century-old fossil. Researchers noted that this find marks the first time a member of the megaraptoran group has been identified in Europe. According to lead author Dr. Cassius Morrison, the discovery provides critical evidence regarding the migration of megaraptorans from Asia through Europe toward Gondwana. Morrison noted that while the species was not an apex predator, its size and agility would have made it a ‘formidable hunter of smaller prey’.