A fossil skull collected on the Isle of Wight has been identified as a new species of dinosaur, according to reports carried by The Malaysian Reserve and other outlets. The specimen had been stored and largely overlooked for more than a century before researchers examined it.
The new species is described as a long-clawed megaraptoran, Phys.org reports, making it the first known member of that group found in Europe. The Telegraph describes the animal as a small relative of Tyrannosaurus rex. BBC coverage also identifies the Isle of Wight fossil as belonging to a previously unknown dinosaur species.
The Isle of Wight lies off the south coast of England and has a long history of yielding dinosaur remains. According to the reports, the skull sat unexamined for over 100 years before being recognised as something new, which is why the identification is only being announced now.
The Independent also reported that the species was identified from a skull found on the island. The various outlets agree on the core finding: the fossil represents a distinct species, and it is the first long-clawed megaraptoran known from Europe.
Further details of the research, including the formal scientific name and the full analysis behind the identification, are expected to follow as the study reaches the wider scientific community.
