New Dinosaur Species Honours Record-Breaking Yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur

Published: 22 August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

A newly-discovered dinosaur boasting a striking sail along its back and tail is set to be named in honour of Dame Ellen MacArthur, the record-breaking British yachtswoman. The species, Istiorachis macaruthurae, was identified by Jeremy Lockwood, a PhD student at the University of Portsmouth and the Natural History Museum, after meticulous analysis of fossils previously thought to belong to other known iguanodontian dinosaurs from the Isle of Wight.

The genus name Istiorachis, meaning “sail spine,” highlights the dinosaur’s eye-catching neural spines, while macaruthurae pays tribute to Dame Ellen, who gained international fame for setting the record for the fastest solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in 2005. The fossils, dating back approximately 125 million years, were found on the Isle of Wight, Dame Ellen’s birthplace, underscoring a local connection between prehistoric and contemporary feats of endurance and innovation.

Dr Lockwood explained that the fossilized spines were unusually long compared with other iguanodontians, suggesting the presence of a pronounced sail-like structure along the back. Published in the scientific journal Papers in Palaeontology, his study explores the functional purpose of such features, long debated in paleontology. While theories range from body temperature regulation to fat storage, researchers believe the sail of Istiorachis was most likely used for visual signalling, potentially as part of sexual display.

To reach these conclusions, Dr Lockwood’s team compared the fossils to a comprehensive database of similar dinosaur backbones, allowing them to trace the evolution of sail-like formations across related species. “These spines weren’t just tall—they were more exaggerated than usual for Iguanodon-like dinosaurs, exactly the type of trait you’d expect to evolve through sexual selection,” Dr Lockwood noted.

Professor Susannah Maidment of the Natural History Museum emphasised the significance of revisiting long-held fossil collections. “Jeremy’s careful study of specimens that have been preserved in museum collections for years has brought the iguanodontian dinosaurs of the Isle of Wight vividly to life. Collections like those at Dinosaur Isle play a crucial role in enabling new research and understanding of evolutionary history,” she said.

Over the past five years, Dr Lockwood has substantially expanded knowledge of smaller iguanodontians on the Isle of Wight, quadrupling the known diversity. Istiorachis macaruthurae represents a continuing testament to the rich Early Cretaceous ecosystems of the UK and highlights how persistent study of museum collections can yield groundbreaking discoveries decades after fossils were first unearthed.

This naming also symbolically links the pioneering spirit of Dame Ellen MacArthur with the remarkable adaptations of prehistoric creatures, creating a bridge between human and natural achievements rooted in the Isle of Wight.