Dinosaur fossil ‘sitting in a drawer’ for 100 years identified as new T-rex relative

Key Points:

• A fossil discovered in 1924 on the Isle of Wight has been identified as a new species of megaraptoran, a group of agile, two-legged carnivores closely related to Tyrannosaurus rex, marking the first of its kind found in Europe.
• Named Invictibellatrix amberina, the dinosaur was about the size of a large tiger, likely feathered, and used its large arms and curved claws to hunt small dinosaurs, lizards, and mammals, occupying a similar ecological role to modern hyenas.
• Megaraptorans are believed to have originated in Asia and spread through Europe before becoming apex predators in the southern supercontinent Gondwana; this discovery provides evidence of their presence in Europe and their migration route.
• The study involved CT scans and 3D modeling of the fossil skull, revealing unique features that confirmed its classification as a new species within the megaraptoran family, offering insights into the global distribution and eventual extinction of megaraptors in northern regions.
• Researchers emphasize the importance of museum collections for paleontological discoveries, noting that the Isle of Wight continues to yield new dinosaur species despite extensive historical excavations.