The BBC website reported on August 12 that paleontologists at the University of Southampton believe that the four bones found in Shanklin last year belong to a new theropod dinosaur. This dinosaur lived 115 million years ago in the Cretaceous period and is estimated to be 4 meters long. Named Vectaerovenator inopinatus, it belongs to a group of dinosaurs that includes Tyrannosaurus rex and modern birds. The name refers to the discovery of large air chambers in some bones (the neck, back and tail bones of this creature), one of the features that helped scientists determine its theropod origin. The University of Southampton says these air sacs, also found in modern birds, are an extension of the lungs and are likely to "help fuel an efficient respiratory system while making bones lighter".
The fossils were discovered in 3 installments in 2019 and handed over to the Dinosaur Island Museum in nearby Sandown. Robin Ward, an ordinary fossil hunter in Stratford-upon-Avon, and his family discovered the bones while visiting the Isle of Wight. "The joy of finding these bones was simply fantastic," he said. James Rockyer from Spulding, Lincolnshire, also found another skeleton while visiting the island. "It looks different from the marine reptile vertebrae I've seen in the past," he said. "I was searching a site in Shanklin and I was told and read some presentations that I couldn't find anything there," he said. Still, I always made sure I searched where others weren't, and this time it paid off. Paul Farrell, from Ryder, also said: "I was walking on the beach, kicking rocks and then I found a bone that looked like a dinosaur. It really shocked me to find out that it could be a new species. ”
Chris Buckle, who led the study at the University of Southampton, said: "We were shocked that this animal was so empty – it was full of air chambers. Some of its bones must be quite fragile. "Theropod dinosaurs from the 'middle' Cretaceous in Europe are not as well documented, so it's really exciting to be able to increase our understanding of dinosaur species diversity this time." Dinosaurs are not usually found in the sediments of Shanklin because their habitat is in the sea. People are more likely to find fossils of oysters or driftwood. So this is indeed a rare finding. ”
Related reports: Found a new species of dinosaur 115 million years ago: about 4 meters long, with a huge air sac in the bone cavity
According to a new study by paleontologists at the University of Southampton, four bones recently discovered on the Isle of Wight belong to new species of theropod dinosaurs, including Rex tyrannosaurus and modern birds.
This dinosaur lived 115 million years ago in the Cretaceous period and is estimated to be up to 4 meters long. "We were struck by the hollow of this animal – it filled the airspace. Part of its skeleton must be quite fragile. The doctoral student who led the study said.
The bones, discovered last year off the front coast of Shanklin, came from the neck, back and tail of the new dinosaur, named Vectaerovenator inopinatus.
The name refers to the huge airspace in some bones, one of the features that helped scientists determine the origin of its theropod dinosaurs. Its neck, back, and tail bony cavities contain huge air sacs that can also be seen in modern birds as an extension of the lungs, and they likely help improve the efficiency of the respiratory system while also lightening the bones.
The fossils were obtained in three different discoveries in 2019, two by individuals and one by a family group that gave samples to the nearby Dinosaur Isle Museum at Sandown.
Scientific research has confirmed that the fossils are likely to come from the same dinosaur, and the exact location and timing of these discoveries is even more believable.
Robin Ward, a "fossil hunter" from Stratford-upon-Avon, was on a tour with his family when they found fossils on the Isle of Wight. "The joy of finding these bones is simply wonderful," he said. I thought they were special, so I took them with me when I visited the Dinosaur Island Museum. They knew right away that these things were rare and asked if we could donate them to a museum for adequate research. ”
James Lockyer, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, also found another bone while touring the island. He is also an ordinary fossil hunter. He described: "It looks different from the marine reptile vertebrates I've encountered in the past. I was looking for a place in Shanklin and I was told I couldn't find anything there. However, I always made sure to search areas that others didn't search, and this time I got paid off. ”
Paul Farrell, from Ryde on the Isle of Wight, added: "I was walking on the beach, kicking rocks and stumbling upon something resembling a dinosaur bone. I was really shocked when I found out it could be a new species. ”
After studying the four vertebrae, paleontologists from the University of Southampton confirmed that the bones probably belonged to a type of dinosaur that was previously unknown to the scientific community. Their findings will be published in Palaeontology, a co-authored by the person who discovered the fossil.
Chris Barker, a PhD student at the university who led the study, said: "The records of theropod dinosaurs in the Middle Cretaceous in Europe are not very complete, so it's really exciting that [the new findings] can improve our understanding of the diversity of dinosaur species from this period."
"You don't usually find dinosaurs in Shanklin's sediment because they live in marine habitats. You'll most likely find fossilized oysters or drifting wood, so this is indeed a rare find. ”
The dinosaur, named Vectaerovenator inopinatus, most likely lived in the northern region where its remains were found, and its body washed up in the shallow sea nearby.
Chris Barker added: "While we have enough material to determine the general type of dinosaur, we hope to find more material to refine our analysis." We are very grateful for donating these fossils to the scientific community and for the important role citizen science plays in paleontology." ”
The Isle of Wight is one of Europe's most famous sources of dinosaur fossils, and the new Vectaerovenator fossils will be on display at the Dinosaur Isle Museum in Sandon. Dr Martin Munt, director of the museum, said: "We continue to conduct public field trips from the museum and encourage people who find unusual fossils to bring them in so we can take a closer look. ”
Related reports: 3 fossil hunters have discovered new species of dinosaurs! 115 million years ago Length is about 4 meters
According to overseas network (Wei Xuewei internship compilation/Li Xinyu): A few days ago, paleontologists at the University of Southampton believed that the dinosaur fossils found by three fossil hunters in the area of Shankelin on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom are an extremely rare new species.
According to the BBC, in 2019, 3 fossil hunters have found fossils of this new type of dinosaur in Shanklin, and after research and research, paleontologists at the University of Southampton believe that the dinosaur belongs to the middle Cretaceous theropod order, and there are very few records found in Europe.
The dinosaur lived 115 million years ago in the Cretaceous period and was about 4 meters long. Because of the large air sacs in the bony cavities of its neck, back and tail, the researchers determined that it belonged to the theropod suborder and named it Vectaerovenator inopinatus. Researchers believe that the dinosaur belonged to the same class as modern birds, which also had air sacs, which they used as an aid to the lungs. In addition, the balloon is likely to "help it improve respiratory efficiency and reduce bone weight."
Chris Barker, the lead researcher on the project, said, "We didn't expect the bone cavity of this dinosaur to be so empty, and the bones were full of stomata. According to this, part of its skeleton must be very fragile. Barker also mentioned the significance of the discovery. There are not many records of theropod dinosaurs in the Middle Cretaceous of Europe, and this discovery can give us a better understanding of the diversity of Cretaceous dinosaurs. Most dinosaurs inhabited the ocean, so dinosaur fossils are not usually found in Shanklin's deposits. Therefore, fossils of new dinosaurs are very rare. ”
Locker, the fossil hunter who found dinosaur fossils, said, "It [dinosaur fossils] look different from the fossils of marine reptile vertebrates I've seen before." Although I was told that no fossils would be found in Shanklin, I always made sure to search for places that were not found. This time I finally got the reward. The fossil hunter Farrell's discovery looked more casual, saying, "I was walking on the beach, kicking rocks, and I was shocked to find something that resembled a dinosaur bone." ”