Newly Discovered Iguanodontian Dinosaur, Comptonatus chasei, Named after Isle of Wight Discoverer and Unveils Fast Evolution Rates during Early Cretaceous Epoch
Believed to be around a ton in weight and part of the iguanodontian group of herbivores
Discovered on Isle of Wight, UK in 2013
Evidence suggests herding animal behavior
Fast evolution rates demonstrated for iguanodontian dinosaurs during Early Cretaceous epoch
Most complete skeleton found in UK in over a century with skull, teeth, spine and leg bones present
Named after Nick Chase who discovered remains and Compton Bay on Isle of Wight
Newly discovered iguanodontian dinosaur species named Comptonatus chasei
Significant find as one of the most complete iguanodontian dinosaur discoveries in Britain
A new species of dinosaur, Comptonatus chasei, was identified in England in 2013. The most complete skeleton found in the UK in over a century was discovered on the Isle of Wight and is believed to be around a ton in weight. Comptonatus chasei is part of a group of dinosaurs called iguanodontians, which are herbivores that roamed Earth during the Early Cretaceous epoch. The fossilized remains were found in the Wessex Formation and include cranial elements, such as the skull and teeth, as well as spine and leg bones. Evidence suggests that Comptonatus chasei was a herding animal. The discovery of this new species demonstrates fast rates of evolution in iguanodontian dinosaurs during this time period and could help scientists understand ecosystem recovery after the Jurassic extinction event.
Comptonatus chasei is named after Nick Chase, who discovered the remains, and Compton Bay on the Isle of Wight. The large pubic hip bone found in the fossil suggests different modes of locomotion or stomach support. This discovery is significant as it is one of the most complete iguanodontian dinosaur finds in Britain.
Despite only four new dinosaur species being described on the Isle of Wight in the whole of the 1900s, there have been eight new species named in the last five years. This adds to recent research that shows Wessex was one of the world's most diverse ecosystems during this time period.
The study looked at every part of the fossil, including skull, teeth, spine and leg bones. The findings were published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.
A new iguanodontian dinosaur, Comptonatus chasei, has been discovered on the Isle of Wight.
Comptonatus chasei is a ton-sized herding animal that roamed Earth during the Early Cretaceous epoch.
The fossilized remains of Comptonatus chasei were found in the Wessex Formation and are one of the most complete iguanodontian dinosaur finds in Britain.
Comptonatus chasei is a member of Iguanodontia, a group of ornithischian dinosaurs originating during the Late Middle Jurassic.
The discovery demonstrates fast rates of evolution in iguanodontian dinosaurs during this time period and could help understand ecosystem recovery after the Jurassic extinction event.
Fossil collector Nick Chase discovered the remains in 2013.
Comptonatus chasei is one of eight new dinosaur species named on the Isle of Wight in the last five years.
A complete dinosaur specimen, Comptonatus chasei, was discovered in the UK.
It is a new-to-science species and genus with unique features in the skull, teeth, and hip bone.
The large pubic hip bone suggests different modes of locomotion or stomach support.
Comptonatus chasei was named after Compton Bay on the Isle of Wight and late fossil collector Nick Chase.
This discovery is the most complete dinosaur specimen found in the UK in over 100 years according to Dr Susannah Maidment.
Comptonatus chasei is younger than Brighstoneus but older than Mantellisaurus, demonstrating fast rates of evolution in iguandontian dinosaurs during this time period.
