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Paleontologists from the University of Southampton have uncovered evidence of diverse spinosaur species that inhabited southern England approximately 100 million years ago, based on analysis of a 140 million-year-old dinosaur tooth. The tooth, stored at Hastings Museum, does not match any known spinosaur species, indicating that the region likely harbored a rich variety of these crocodile-like dinosaurs during the Early Cretaceous. The team conducted detailed comparisons using statistical analyses, revealing that the isolated tooth belongs to a different spinosaur type than the well-known Baryonyx, signifying greater diversity among these dinosaurs than previously recognized.
The Wealden Supergroup, known for its spinosaur fossils, has yielded significant findings, including the identification of new species such as the ‘Hell Heron’ Ceratosuchops and potentially Europe’s largest land predator, the ‘White Rock’ spinosaur. The researchers emphasize the importance of museum collections in understanding paleontological history, advocating for continuous study and reevaluation of specimens. Their findings highlight that even well-studied regions like southern England could harbor undiscovered dinosaur species, emphasizing the need for ongoing investigation into historical biodiversity. The study was published in PeerJ, reinforcing the notion of hidden diversity within the Wealden fossil record.
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