A new find that we’re all very excited about—both island and dinosaur—has revealed a brand new species of iguanodontian dinosaur from the Isle of Wight, named Istiorachis macarthurae. Named from fossils up to 125 million years old, this dinosaur has some weird evolutionary baggage. These anatomical features might offer clues into the mating habits of ancient animals. Researchers think that the dramatic sail, especially along its back and tail, was mainly a showy visual display. That’s probably what contributed to its success in attracting potential mates.
The dinosaur was found by retired general practitioner Jeremy Lockwood, who uncovered the dino while a Ph.D. student at the University of Portsmouth. He worked with the Natural History Museum in London to illustrate this amazing discovery. The researchers recently published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Papers in Palaeontology. This finding further emphasizes the need to comprehend larger evolutionary patterns across dinosaurs.
Discovery and Identification
As with our last taxonomic article, the initial fossils of Istiorachis were discovered among the collections within the Dinosaur Isle museum on the Isle of Wight. At first, scientists assumed these bones belonged to an already described, more familiar iguanodontian species from the area. On closer inspection, Lockwood and his team noticed unique characteristics that deserved to classify it as a new species.
The holotype of Istiorachis, MIWG 6643, boasts an extraordinary combination of physical characteristics. Most conspicuously, Istiorachis has clearly hyper-elongated neural spines, extending over four times the height of its vertebral body. This retromolar space is a unique feature that differentiates it from other iguanodontians. It further begs questions about its functional importance to the dinosaur’s life.
Evolutionary Implications
The finding of Istiorachis is part of a larger evolutionary picture where many species evolve elaborate structures. Evolution isn’t always practical. In many cases, evolution favors traits that seem downright stupid but are secret weapons for survival and reproduction. Researchers think that Istiorachis with its beautiful sail likely employed it for display as well. They think this behavior made it crucial in their courtship displays.
This line of thinking mirrors evolutionary theories asserting that numerous species evolve gaudy traits to impress mates and subsequently garner greater fitness value. In that sense, Istiorachis is an intriguing testament to the ways in which evolution will sometimes favor beauty along with utility.
Significance of the Findings
The impact of this new study goes far beyond simply describing a new dinosaur species. The research is a valuable reminder of the importance of going back through collections and even reanalyzing previously studied specimens in paleontology. What we thought was a not-so-special iguanodontian has thrown us for a loop already. It has since turned into a singular indelible contribution to the tale of evolution.
The discoveries emphasize the Isle of Wight’s remarkable paleontological legacy. This otherworldly place still provides amazing clues about the variety of how life once was on our planet. Researches continue to create new and examine historic collections. In the process they might stumble upon some unexpected new evidence that dramatically changes how we think about dinosaur evolution.