First meat-eating dinosaur fossil found in Wales to be displayed

The dinosaur is thought to be a distant cousin of the T-Rex. Credit: National Museum Wales

The fossilised skeleton of the first meat-eating dinosaur discovered in Wales will be unveiled at the National Museum in Cardiff today.

The theropod dinosaur was discovered on a beach near Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan last year.

This new Welsh dinosaur was a distant cousin of Tyrannosaurus rex and lived at the very earliest part of the Jurassic Period around 201 million years ago - possibly making it the oldest Jurassic dinosaur in the world.

Serrations on the tooth of the dinosaur. Credit: National Museum Wales

The discovery was made by two brothers from Llantwit Major, Nick and Rob Hanigan, whilst fossil hunting along the Lavernock beach after storms in spring last year.

The fossil will be on display at the main hall of National Museum Cardiff from today until 6th September.

The discovery was made by brothers Nick and Rob Hanigan near Penarth last year. Credit: National Museum Wales