In 2001, fossilized remains were uncovered at the Ewhurst brick and roof tile works in Surrey, England. The facility had been managed by Will Proudlove, a father of two who held a strong interest in dinosaur fossils. Tragically, Proudlove passed away at age 35 shortly before the excavation took place. The unearthed specimen was given to London's Natural History Museum, where it remained in storage for decades before being thoroughly analyzed.
The Discovery
Recent scientific evaluation led by researcher Ricardo Sacamoto confirmed that the remains belong to an entirely new genus and species. Researchers named the dinosaur Paludohadros proudlovii to honor Proudlove's memory and his connection to the discovery location.
What Scientists Found
The study revealed several key details regarding the prehistoric creature and the environment it inhabited:
- The dinosaur lived approximately 125 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous Period, when southern England was made up of muddy wetlands.
- It was a plant-eater related to Iguanodon, a group recognized for having distinctive thumb spikes.
- This specific individual measured roughly 16 feet in length and weighed between 1.5 and 2 tons, making it similar in size to a modern rhinoceros.
- Bone structure indicated that the creature had not reached adulthood, meaning fully grown members of the species could have been twice as large.
Why It Matters
The location of the fossil provides valuable insight into the local prehistoric food web. The specimen was extracted just 100 meters (approximately 328 feet) from where fossils of the large predator Baryonyx were discovered in 1983. Professor Susannah Maidment, a senior author of the study, explained that while Baryonyx primarily ate fish, one specimen was found with the remains of a young iguanodontian in its stomach, indicating the two species lived alongside one another. For Proudlove's wife, Rachael, and their children, Ellie and Matt, the formal recognition ensures his legacy endures through scientific history.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published October 27, 2026 · Photo by Zhongyi Chen on Unsplash
