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| New ‘sail-backed’ dinosaur named after Dame Ellen MacArthur | New ‘sail-backed’ dinosaur named after Dame Ellen MacArthur |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An artist's impression issued by the University of Portsmouth of an Istiorachis macaruthurae | An artist's impression issued by the University of Portsmouth of an Istiorachis macaruthurae |
| A new species of dinosaur that had an "eye-catching sail" along its back has been named after sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur. | A new species of dinosaur that had an "eye-catching sail" along its back has been named after sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur. |
| The dinosaur, unearthed on the Isle of Wight, has been given the name Istiorachis macaruthurae with the first word meaning "sail spine" and the second referring to Dame Ellen's surname. | The dinosaur, unearthed on the Isle of Wight, has been given the name Istiorachis macaruthurae with the first word meaning "sail spine" and the second referring to Dame Ellen's surname. |
| The record-breaking round-the-world yachtswoman said it was a "huge honour", adding: "The fact that the Istiorachis 'sail' could be likened to the sails I have spent so much of my life below was very touching." | The record-breaking round-the-world yachtswoman said it was a "huge honour", adding: "The fact that the Istiorachis 'sail' could be likened to the sails I have spent so much of my life below was very touching." |
| After being analysed it has now been officially named and described by island-based scientist Jeremy Lockwood, and is now on display at Dinosaur Isle Museum in Sandown. | After being analysed it has now been officially named and described by island-based scientist Jeremy Lockwood, and is now on display at Dinosaur Isle Museum in Sandown. |
| Jeremy Lockwood with the spinal column of an Istiorachis macaruthurae | Jeremy Lockwood with the spinal column of an Istiorachis macaruthurae |
| The medium-sized herbivore once roamed the floodplains of what is now the island's south-west coast. | The medium-sized herbivore once roamed the floodplains of what is now the island's south-west coast. |
| Its remains, which date back 125 million years, were originally discovered by fossil hunter Nick Chase, who died of cancer in 2019. | |
| Before Dr Lockwood's analysis the fossils were assumed to have belonged to one of the two known iguanodontian dinosaur species from the Isle of Wight. | Before Dr Lockwood's analysis the fossils were assumed to have belonged to one of the two known iguanodontian dinosaur species from the Isle of Wight. |
| He said: "While the skeleton wasn't as complete as some of the others that have been found, no-one had really taken a close look at these bones before. | He said: "While the skeleton wasn't as complete as some of the others that have been found, no-one had really taken a close look at these bones before. |
| "It was thought to be just another specimen of one of the existing species, but this one had particularly long neural spines, which was very unusual. | "It was thought to be just another specimen of one of the existing species, but this one had particularly long neural spines, which was very unusual. |
| "It may have been used for display, much like a peacock's feathers, possibly to attract mates or intimidate rivals." | "It may have been used for display, much like a peacock's feathers, possibly to attract mates or intimidate rivals." |
| For the study, researchers compared the fossilised bones with a database of similar dinosaur back bones which allowed them to see how these sail-like formations had evolved. | For the study, researchers compared the fossilised bones with a database of similar dinosaur back bones which allowed them to see how these sail-like formations had evolved. |
| Dame Ellen MacArthur said it was "both extraordinary and a huge honour" to have the dinosaur named after her | Dame Ellen MacArthur said it was "both extraordinary and a huge honour" to have the dinosaur named after her |
| Dame Ellen, founder and patron of the East Cowes based charity the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, said: "It is certainly not an everyday occurrence to be asked if a newly discovered dinosaur could reference your name in its title. | Dame Ellen, founder and patron of the East Cowes based charity the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, said: "It is certainly not an everyday occurrence to be asked if a newly discovered dinosaur could reference your name in its title. |
| "I was somewhat taken aback when this conversation began, but felt hugely privileged to be asked. | "I was somewhat taken aback when this conversation began, but felt hugely privileged to be asked. |
| "The fact that the Istiorachis 'sail' could be a-likened to the sails I have spent so much of my life below was very touching. | "The fact that the Istiorachis 'sail' could be a-likened to the sails I have spent so much of my life below was very touching. |
| "It is both extraordinary and a huge honour that a creature living 125 million years ago could possibly be linked to my family name." | "It is both extraordinary and a huge honour that a creature living 125 million years ago could possibly be linked to my family name." |
| She became the fastest person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 2005. | She became the fastest person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 2005. |
| You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. | You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. |