Paludohadros named as a new dinosaur from museum fossils
Fossils excavated in Surrey, England, in 2001 and donated to London’s Natural History Museum have been named as a distinct dinosaur genus and species, Paludohadros proudlovii. The plant eater lived around 125 million years ago and was related to Iguanodon. Its recognition follows renewed examination of old museum collections. The species name honours Will Proudlove, the late manager of the works where the fossils were found.
Science··Morning
A new name for a fossil excavated in 2001
A dinosaur fossil from Surrey in southern England has been named as a distinct genus and species years after its excavation. The remains, now called Paludohadros proudlovii, were uncovered at the Ewhurst brick and roof tile works in 2001 and subsequently donated to London’s Natural History Museum. The museum announced the naming on October 27. The description appeared in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.[1], [2]
Ricardo Sacamoto, a doctoral student at the museum and Brazil’s University of São Paulo, led the research. Paludohadros belongs to the herbivorous dinosaur group that includes Iguanodon. Fossils from this group in southern England were historically assigned largely to Iguanodon or its smaller relative Mantellisaurus. A detailed redescription of Mantellisaurus in 2023 helped researchers distinguish other fossils in the collections.[1], [2]
A plant eater from ancient wetlands
The four-legged plant eater lived around 125 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous. Southern England then contained muddy wetlands. The genus name draws on palus, the Latin word for swamp, linking the animal’s name to its environment. The individual examined was around five metres long and weighed about 1.5–2 tonnes. Its incompletely developed bones suggest that it was still a juvenile.[1], [2]
The species name proudlovii honours Will Proudlove, the former manager of the works where the fossil was found. Proudlove was interested in dinosaur fossils but died shortly before the excavation. His family was invited to see the dig in 2001. The naming came years after that visit. His wife, Rachael Proudlove, said the family was honoured that both a new species and genus would carry his legacy.[1], [2]
A possible connection with a nearby carnivore
The museum also holds Baryonyx walkeri, a carnivorous dinosaur found at the same works in 1983, around 100 metres from the Paludohadros discovery. Its last meal included remains of a young iguanodontian as well as fish. The species of that prey cannot be identified with certainty. Co-author Susannah Maidment describes a possible link with young Paludohadros as a possibility, rather than an established predator–prey relationship.[1], [2]
Re-examination has also identified further Paludohadros specimens among fossils collected in the 1950s. Sacamoto plans to continue examining the museum’s iguanodontian collections as part of his doctorate. The recognition of the new species grew out of renewed work on bones already collected and stored. Further examination could identify additional unrecognised species, although no number has been established.[1], [2]
