New dinosaur species with ‘eye-catching sail’ discovered on Isle of Wight

New dinosaur species with ‘eye-catching sail’ discovered on Isle of Wight
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Scientists have identified a new species of dinosaur with a distinctive sail along its back and tail, believed to have been used for attracting mates, The Guardian reported. The iguanodontian dinosaur, named Istiorachis macarthurae, was discovered on the Isle of Wight by Dr Jeremy Lockwood, a PhD student at the University of Portsmouth and the Natural History Museum.

The fossils, dating back approximately 125 million years, were previously thought to belong to known species from the region. However, Lockwood’s detailed comparison with a database of similar dinosaur vertebrae revealed uniquely long neural spines, indicating a pronounced sail-like structure.

The species is named in honor of sailor Ellen MacArthur, who set a world record for the fastest solo non-stop sailing voyage around the world in 2005. Researchers suggest the sail was likely used for visual signaling, possibly as part of sexual display to attract mates or intimidate rivals, a trait seen in modern reptiles.

Professor Susannah Maidment of the Natural History Museum praised the study, emphasizing the value of museum collections in enabling new discoveries and insights into dinosaur evolution.