Brief
New T‑rex relative identified from century‑old Isle of Wight fossil
The specimen, stored at the Natural History Museum, reveals a feathered, claw‑armed predator about the size of a large tiger.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A fossil skull collected in 1924 on the Isle of Wight and kept in a drawer at the Natural History Museum in London has been identified as a new species of megaraptoran dinosaur, researchers reported on 13 October 2026.
What happened
The bone, originally catalogued as an indeterminate theropod, was re‑examined using CT scanning and comparative anatomy. The analysis showed it belonged to a slender‑headed, two‑legged carnivore with large, curved claws. The team named the species Invictibellatrix amberina, placing it within the megaraptoran group that is closely related to tyrannosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex.
What the report adds
According to the Independent, the new dinosaur measured roughly three to four metres in length and stood about 1.5 metres tall – comparable to a large tiger. Its name combines the Latin for “unconquered female warrior” with a reference to amber found in the surrounding rock. The authors suggest the animal likely bore feathers and used its 10‑20 cm claws to seize prey rather than relying on its jaws.
What was said
"It is a real mystery that this fossil was overlooked for so long, sitting in a drawer for nearly 100 years," palaeontologist Cassius Morrison of University College London told the Independent. He added that the creature would have hunted small dinosaurs, lizards and mammals, occupying a niche similar to modern hyenas. "Based on what we know about its closest relatives, Invictibellatrix would have been three to four metres long and just over a metre and a half in height – about as tall as a human," he said. Co‑author Charlie Scherer said the find provides the first proof that megaraptorans were present in Europe and that they reached Gondwana via Europe rather than island‑hopping.
How it came about
The specimen was acquired by the Natural History Museum in 1924 and remained unstudied until the recent project, which used high‑resolution CT imaging to reveal internal structures. The study was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. This discovery follows a series of recent fossil breakthroughs reported by Felo News, including the identification of a new cat species in Bolivia and a 345‑million‑year‑old aquatic fossil from Scotland, highlighting the ongoing value of re‑examining historic collections.
Key facts
- A 1924 Isle of Wight skull has been named <i>Invictibellatrix amberina</i>, a new megaraptoran species. (independent.co.uk)
- The dinosaur measured about three to four metres long and 1.5 metres tall. (independent.co.uk)
- Researchers suggest it had feathers and 10‑20 cm curved claws used for hunting. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Dinosaur fossil ‘sitting in a drawer’ for 100 years identified as new T rex relative”
