The Discovery
A dinosaur fossil excavated in England more than two decades ago has officially been identified as an entirely new genus and species. Originally unearthed in 2001 at the Ewhurst brick and roof tile works in Surrey, the specimen was donated to the Natural History Museum in London. Researchers have now classified the plant-eater as Paludohadros proudlovii.
The generic name derives from the Latin word for swamp, referencing the muddy wetlands the dinosaur once inhabited. The specific name honors Will Proudlove, a former quarry manager who held a strong passion for the fossils uncovered at the site before his death shortly before the discovery.
What Scientists Found
Scientists determined that Paludohadros was a four-legged herbivore belonging to the iguanodontian group, which is known for distinct thumb spikes. Notable details about the animal include:
- It roamed the muddy wetlands of southern England approximately 125 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period.
- The specific individual measured roughly 5 meters (16 feet) long and weighed an estimated 1.5 to 2 metric tons.
- Its underdeveloped bones show that it died as a juvenile; fully grown adults may have reached double that size.
- The fossil was discovered just 100 meters away from Baryonyx walkeri, a large predatory dinosaur that may have hunted or scavenged young Paludohadros.
Why It Matters
Historically, iguanodontian fossils from southern England were almost always assigned to one of two genera: Iguanodon or Mantellisaurus. However, recent re-evaluations of anatomical differences have enabled paleontologists to separate these animals into distinct groups, including Brighstoneus, Comptonatus, Istiorachis, and now Paludohadros.
This reclassification has prompted researchers to re-examine historical museum archives. Several specimens collected as far back as the 1950s have already been recognized as Paludohadros, raising expectations that additional unidentified dinosaur species may still be hidden in existing collections.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published October 29, 2026 · Photo by Blond Fox on Unsplash
