Fossils found on a rocky beach show there was double trouble on England’s Isle of Wight about 127 million years ago, with a pair of large previously unknown dinosaur predators living perhaps side by side, both adapted to hunting along the water’s edge. Scientists on Wednesday announced the discovery of fossils of the two Cretaceous Period meat-eaters—both measuring about 30 feet long (9 meters) and boasting elongated crocodile-like skulls—on the southwest of the island, one of Europe’s richest locales for dinosaur remains. They are examples of a type of dinosaur called a spinosaur, known for long and narrow skulls with lots of conical teeth—perfect for grasping slippery fish—as well as strong arms and big claws. One is named Ceratosuchops inferodios, meaning “horned crocodile-faced hell heron.” The name refers to a heron because of that bird’s shoreline-foraging lifestyle. Ceratosuchops had a series of low horns and bumps ornamenting its brow region. …
England’s Isle of Wight Was Isle of Fright, With Two Big Dinosaur Predators
October 2, 2021
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