New dinosaur species found after Isle of Wight fossil 'overlooked' for a century

A new species of dinosaur has been discovered because of a fossil found on the Isle of Wight that has been "sitting in a drawer" for more than a century.

The dinosaur - a long-clawed predator the size of a large tiger - is the first of a group of two-legged carnivores called megaraptorans to be found in Europe, researchers said.

The fossil has been "overlooked" for further study since it was acquired by the Natural History Museum in 1924.

It has been named Invictibellatrix amberina, which means "unconquered female warrior".

A team of researchers led by University College London (UCL) said the species of megaraptorans, which were closely related to tyrannosaurs including Tyrannosaurus rex, lived in the UK in the early cretaceous period about 120 million years ago.

Dr Cassius Morrison, the lead author of the paper documenting the finding, said: "It is a real mystery that this fossil was overlooked for so long, sitting in a drawer for nearly 100 years."

"Lots of bones are found on the Isle of Wight - who knows what else is waiting to be discovered."

Dr Morrison said the new species was "not the apex predator of its time" but it would have been dangerous to humans, if the two species had co-existed.

"It was not the apex predator of its time, but for humans this dinosaur would have been more dangerous than a T-rex," he said.

"We would have been perfectly sized prey, about a third of their body weight. They definitely would have chased us.

"A T-rex would not have bothered, as we would have been too small."

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The fossil was part of a skull, adding to the knowledge of skull anatomy among early megaraptorans.

Megaraptorans hunted in the opposite way from massive predators like Tyrannosaurus rex, which employed its large and stoutly built head, enormous teeth and incredible bite strength to kill prey, but had puny arms.

Dr Morrison said megaraptorans developed into apex predators in South America, Australia and Antarctica, becoming "the ruling queens," while the tyrannosaurs became the "tyrant kings" in North America and Asia.

Invictibellatrix would have been about 9 to 13ft - around 3 to 4 meters - long and just over 5ft - or a metre and a half - in height, with feathers and claws between 4 and 8 inches - or 10 and 20cm - long, he said.

It would have eaten small dinosaurs, lizards and mammals, and was known for running down prey and ripping it apart with massive hand claws.

The fossil was originally found at the foot of a cliff on the southwest coast of the Isle of Wight by amateur palaeontologist Reginald Walter Tooley.

Megaraptors are thought to have originated in Asia before migrating through Europe.

The research, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, was funded by the Palaeontographical Society, the Royal Society and UK Research and Innovation.

(c) Sky News 2026: New dinosaur species found after Isle of Wight fossil 'overlooked' for a century