By Isle of Wight Observer
A striking new dinosaur species, with a dramatic sail along its back and tail, has been officially named and described – here on the Isle of Wight.
Istiocarchis, meaning “sail-spine,” was a medium-sized herbivore that roamed the Island’s floodplains some 125 million years ago. Closely related to Iguanodon, this newly identified species adds a bold new chapter to the Island’s prehistoric story.
The fossil was originally discovered by the late Nick Chase, a local fossil hunter whose finds continue to shape scientific understanding. It has now been formally described by Island-based scientist, Dr Jeremy Lockwood, who believes the sail may have been used for display – perhaps to attract mates or intimidate rivals.
The fossil is now on display at Dinosaur Isle Museum, in Sandown, but visitors will need to act fast. The museum will close from Monday (September 1) until January 2026 for major improvement works, including a new roof, upgraded lighting, and the installation of air conditioning and heating.
“This dinosaur adds greatly to our understanding of an ancient ecosystem,” said museum conservator, Dr Simon Penn. Curator, Dr Martin Munt, added: “It’s an exciting opportunity to display another dinosaur that deepens our understanding of Early Cretaceous diversity.”
Istiocarchis brings the number of medium-sized Iguanodontian dinosaurs found on the Island to four. With nine new species described in the past six years, the Isle of Wight deserves its reputation as one of Europe’s top fossil hotspots.