Dinosaurs of the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight has layers of the Vectis and Wealden fossil-bearing beds exposed on the southern half of the island.

These are revealed in the cliffs of Yaverland, close to Sandown, and at Hanover Point and Whale Chine, along the southwestern coast.

During this time the Isle of Wight, then located on a latitude at which North Africa resides today, had a subtropical environment and was part of a large river valley complex, which ran along the south coast of England to Belgium.

Animal remains from this time include crocodiles, turtles, pterosaurs, mammals and possibly some birds.

As this environment did not change much, over the course of 10 million years, a large number of fossils were formed, so the island today is a very rich source.