Neovenator — artistic reconstruction

Cretaceous

Neovenator

Neovenator salerii

The catalogue presents Neovenator as a carnivore member of Neovenatoridae that lived during the Cretaceous, between 130.0–125.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 7.0–7.5 m in length and 1.0–2.0 t in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Wessex Formation, Isle of Wight, UK. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.

Carnivore130.0–125.0 MaNeovenatoridae

Evidence-backed summary

For Neovenator, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Hutt et al. (1996).

The PBDB places it in Neovenatoridae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Neovenatoridae.

In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range is the Barremian.

The PBDB catalogues 1 occurrence, with material from the Wessex Formation (1). Provenance: United Kingdom.

The catalogue records the holotype as MIWG 6348 and the type locality as “Wessex Formation, Isle of Wight, UK”.

  • MIWG 6348
  • Wessex Formation, Isle of Wight, UK

The catalogue's reference measurements are 7.0–7.5 m in length and 1.0–2.0 t in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.

  • 7.0-7.5 m
  • 1.0-2.0 tons

The record gathers 19 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.

Records compiled on 2026-08-08

Where it lived

Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.

Present-day map1 PBDB
Wessex
PBDB occurrences
Map at the time · ~125 Ma1 PBDB
Wessex
PBDB occurrences
Present mean latitude50.6° N
Reconstructed mean latitude37.1° N

Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.

Paleobiology Database · GPlates · CC BY 4.0

Artistic 3D reconstruction

There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.

Physical Specifications

Length
7.0–7.5 m
Weight
1.0–2.0 t
Period
Cretaceous
Time range
130.0–125.0 Ma

Discovery Information

First Discovery
1978
Described by
Steve Hutt

Taxonomic Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Saurischia
Family
Neovenatoridae
Genus
Neovenator
Species
N. salerii

Paleobiology Database · txn:64119

Data status

Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.

Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.

Type specimen
MIWG 6348
Type locality
Wessex Formation, Isle of Wight, UK