New ‘sail-backed’ dinosaur unearthed on the Isle of Wight

A remarkable new dinosaur with a dramatic sail running down its back and tail has been officially named and described — right here on the Isle of Wight.

Meet Istiorachis, meaning “sail-spine,” a medium-sized herbivore that once roamed the lush floodplains of what is now the south-west coast of the Island some 125 million years ago.

Closely related to the well-known Iguanodon, this newly discovered species adds a striking chapter to the Island’s prehistoric past.

The fossil remains were originally discovered by the late Nick Chase, a dedicated local fossil hunter whose legacy continues to shape our understanding of ancient life.

The dinosaur has now been formally described by Island-based scientist Dr Jeremy Lockwood in a newly published scientific paper.

“This animal had a distinctive sail or crest along its back and tail,” said Dr Lockwood.

“It may have been used for display, much like a peacock’s feathers, possibly to attract mates or intimidate rivals.”

The fossil is now proudly on display at Dinosaur Isle Museum in Sandown, where it joins an ever-growing collection of prehistoric treasures.

Dr Simon Penn, the museum’s conservator, said: “This dinosaur adds greatly to our understanding of an ancient ecosystem. The sail could have had many functions, perhaps even for communication or temperature regulation.”

Dr Martin Munt, the museum’s curator, added: “It’s an exciting opportunity to display another dinosaur that deepens our understanding of Early Cretaceous diversity. The ancient ecosystem was far more dynamic than we once thought.”

The discovery of Istiorachis brings the number of medium-sized Iguanodontian dinosaurs known from the Isle of Wight from one to four.

In fact, nine new dinosaurs have now been described from the museum’s collection in just the past six years, cementing the Island’s reputation as one of Europe’s top fossil hotspots.

Visitors can see Istiorachis up close at Dinosaur Isle Museum, Sandown. Opening hours are: