New dinosaur discovery reveals megaraptor migration to Europe
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Paleontologists in England identified a new dinosaur species, Invictibellatrix amberina, from a braincase discovered on the Isle of Wight in 1924.
The team, from University College London, examined the specimen using micro-CT scans and determined it was a megaraptor, a group of predatory dinosaurs that lived in the supercontinent of Gondwana. This discovery marks the first time a megaraptor has been found in Europe, suggesting they migrated from Asia to Europe before spreading to other parts of Gondwana.
The dinosaur, which lived around 120 million years ago, stood approximately five feet tall and was 10 to 13 feet long. Researchers believe Invictibellatrix amberina likely had feathers and claws four to eight inches long, and it hunted smaller animals such as lizards and mammals. The scientists named the new genus “unconquered female warrior” as a message of resilience.
While not an apex predator like Tyrannosaurus rex, the dinosaur would have posed a threat to humans due to their size relative to potential prey. The find helps paleontologists understand how megaraptors populated different regions during the Cretaceous period.
