It\u2019s an exciting and ground-breaking discovery: tyrannosaurs \u2013 powerful hunters with a large heads, and jaws equipped with serrated teeth for eating flesh \u2013 are very rare in the Cretaceous sediments of southern England.<\/p>
The tyrannosaurs discovered would have been approximately one-third the size of Tyrannosaurus rex. They hunted small dinosaurs and reptiles in their floodplain habitat.<\/p>
Teeth from spinosaurs \u2013 semi-aquatic dinosaurs with large sail-like vertebrae \u2013 and members of the\u202fVelociraptor\u202ffamily \u2013 agile, sickle-clawed dinosaurs \u2013 have also been identified.<\/p>
- Charmouth, Dorset: Discover the best fossil hunting spots<\/a><\/strong><\/li> <\/ul>
A community of predators<\/h3>
A team of researchers led by the University of Southampton used several techniques to analyse the fossils.<\/p>
They collaborated with colleagues at London\u2019s Natural History Museum, the Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, and the Museo Miguel Lillo De Ciencias Naturales in Argentina.<\/p>
\u201cDinosaur teeth are tough fossils and are usually preserved more frequently than bone. For that reason, they\u2019re often crucial when we want to reconstruct the diversity of an ecosystem\u201d, says Dr Chris Barker, visiting researcher at the University of Southampton and lead author of the research.<\/p>
\u201cRigorous methods exist that can help identify teeth with high accuracy. Our results suggest the presence of spinosaurs, mid-sized tyrannosaurs and tiny dromaeosaurs \u2013\u202fVelociraptor-like theropods \u2013 in these deposits\u201d.<\/p>
A reconstruction of a spinosaurus. The meat-eating ‘spine lizard’ is one of the dinosaur groups identified from teeth found in Bexhill. Getty Images <\/figcaption> <\/figure> Assigning isolated teeth to theropods \u2013 types of carnivorous dinosaurs that walked on their back legs and had short front legs \u2013 is challenging. This is why the team employed various methods to help refine findings, leading to more confident classifications.<\/p>
\u201cIt\u2019s highly likely that reassessment of theropod teeth in museum stores elsewhere will bring up additional discoveries,\u201d says Lucy Handford, co-author of the paper.<\/p>
A global first<\/h3>
Dr Darren Naish, a co-author of the study, added: \u201cThese East Sussex dinosaurs are older than those from the better-known Cretaceous sediments of the Isle of Wight. They are mysterious and poorly known by comparison. We\u2019ve hoped for decades to find out which theropod groups lived here, so the conclusions of our new study are really exciting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>
Citizen science<\/h3>
The discovery wouldn’t have happened without the tireless collecting of retired quarryman Dave Brockhurst.<\/p>
![\"Dave](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/12\/image.webp\")
Dave Brockhurst at the site of his discovery. University Of Southampton <\/figcaption> <\/figure> Dave has uncovered thousands of specimens, ranging from partial dinosaur skeletons to tiny shark teeth. He has donated around 5000 of his discoveries to Bexhill Museum. Theropods are exceptionally rare at the site, and Dave has only found ten or so specimens there so far.\u00a0<\/p>
Several of the specimens are on display at\u202fBexhill Museum<\/a>\u202fin East Sussex.\u00a0University of Southampton\u2019s Institute for Life Sciences funded the research.<\/p>
More about prehistoric Britain<\/strong><\/p>
- Largest-ever marine reptile found in Somerset<\/a><\/li>
- A quick guide to common UK fossils<\/a><\/li>
- New species of Jurassic pterosaur unearthed on Scotland\u2019s Isle of Skye<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Main image: Anthony Hutchings<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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- A quick guide to common UK fossils<\/a><\/li>
- Largest-ever marine reptile found in Somerset<\/a><\/li>