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Dinosaur Named Istiorachis Macarthurae Honors Dame Ellen MacArthur's Sailing Legacy

Science and Technology

Business Honor - Istiorachis Macarthurae Dinosaur Tribute

Business Honor
27 August, 2025

A newly discovered dinosaur species with a sail is named Istiorachis macarthurae to honor Dame Ellen MacArthur.

A recently discovered species of dinosaur, which boasts a striking sail along its back, has been officially named Istiorachis macarthurae in commemoration of record-breaking yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur. The species, found on the Isle of Wight, is thought to have lived around 125 million years ago and was a mid-sized plant-eater to inhabit the floodplains of present-day island south-west coast, much like modern life sciences and biopharma advancements explore the diversity of life in various ecosystems and environments.

The distinctive characteristic of the dinosaur is its sail-like shape, created by long neural spines extending out from its back. The Istiorachis name itself comes from the Greek terms for "sail spine," evoking the distinctive sail formation, and the second part of the name, macarthurae, commemorates Dame Ellen, who had been the first woman to set the world record for the fastest solo, non-stop solo voyage around the world in 2005.

Scientist Jeremy Lockwood, who worked on the analysis of the fossils, said before he began his work, the remains were assumed to have belonged to one of the island's known iguanodontian species. After a closer inspection, however, it was apparent the dinosaur had abnormally long neural spines, the implication being the sail may have been employed for display, much like peacock feathers are employed for attracting mates or intimidating competitors.

The fossil, which was first found by fossil hunter Nick Chase, is now displayed at the Dinosaur Isle Museum in Sandown. Scientists compared the bones against a database of comparable species to see how these sail-like structures developed over time and learn more about prehistoric diversity.

For Dame Ellen MacArthur, being so honored was extraordinary and a humbling experience. She said it was moving to see that the dinosaur's sail was directly related to the sails she had spent most of her life under. This find is an exciting new chapter in paleontology as well as the legacy of MacArthur's incredible accomplishments.