The Discovery
A newly identified dinosaur genus and species has been named in honour of a former quarry manager from Surrey. The prehistoric herbivore, named Paludohadros proudlovii, pays tribute to the late Will Proudlove, a father-of-two who managed the Ewhurst brick and roof tile works. Proudlove was fascinated by the site's history of fossil finds and regularly checked exposed clay layers for ancient remains. He passed away at the age of 35, shortly before the dinosaur's remains were unearthed in 2001 and donated to the Natural History Museum.
What Scientists Found
According to the Natural History Museum, Paludohadros proudlovii is an iguanodontian, a group of dinosaurs famous for having thumb spikes. The four-legged plant-eater lived around 125 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous Period. At that time, southern England was covered in muddy wetlands, which inspired its name, as palus is Latin for swamp.
Key details revealed about the dinosaur include:
- At the time of its death, it was around five metres long and weighed between 1.5 and two tonnes, making it roughly the size of a modern rhino.
- Scientists determined the fossil belonged to a juvenile due to its underdeveloped bones, meaning an adult could have grown to twice that size.
- It shared its environment with Baryonyx walkeri, a fearsome two-legged carnivore discovered at the Ewhurst Works in 1983.
Why It Matters
Historically, iguanodontian fossils found across southern England were assumed to belong to either Iguanodon or its smaller relative, Mantellisaurus. However, a detailed restudy of Mantellisaurus by Natural History Museum researchers in 2023 allowed paleontologists to recognize distinct differences among the specimens.
This re-examination has led to the naming of several new species in recent years. Alongside Paludohadros, scientists have identified Brighstoneus, Comptonatus, and the sail-backed Istiorachis, expanding our understanding of the diverse ancient life that once roamed the region.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published October 27, 2026 · Photo by Paris Bilal on Unsplash
