The Discovery
A fossilized skull fragment that sat unstudied in the Natural History Museum for nearly a century has revealed a previously unknown species of meat-eating dinosaur. Originally collected in 1924 by amateur paleontologist Reginald Walter Tooley near a cliff on the Isle of Wight, the fossil was recently re-examined in detail by a team led by University College London (UCL). To analyze the braincase without damaging the delicate specimen, researchers utilized computed tomography (CT) scans to construct a precise 3D digital model.
What Scientists Found
In a study published in Royal Society Open Science, the researchers identified the dinosaur as Invictibellatrix amberina. Lived roughly 120 million years ago in modern-day Britain, this predator was roughly the size of a large tiger, reaching about three to four meters in length and standing slightly above 1.5 meters tall. It likely had feathers, muscular arms, and large curved claws measuring between 10cm and 20cm.
Detailed examination revealed specific physical features that set it apart from other carnivorous species:
- An oval-shaped opening where the brain attached to the spinal cord
- A distinct crest shaped like an hourglass on its skull
- A narrower head compared to species like Tyrannosaurus rex
Lead author Dr. Cassius Morrison noted that the dinosaur operated similarly to a modern hyena within its environment, preying on lizards, small mammals, and smaller dinosaurs.
Why It Matters
The identification of Invictibellatrix marks the first time a megaraptoran fossil has been found in Europe. Co-author Charlie Scherer noted that this provides critical evidence supporting the theory that megaraptorans originated in Asia, expanded through Europe, and eventually made their way into Gondwana.
While Invictibellatrix was one of the earliest and smaller members of this group, later descendants in southern regions evolved into massive top predators. Senior author Professor Paul Barrett highlighted that the discovery proves historical museum archives continue to hold valuable secrets that can reshape our understanding of ancient life.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published October 17, 2026 · Photo by MARIOLA GROBELSKA on Unsplash