About Polacanthus fossils
Polacanthus is a genus of ornithischians, the horned, armoured and duck-billed group. The database records 2 species of it: Polacanthus foxii and Polacanthus rudgwickensis.
The 16 finds on the map come from 2 countries. The United Kingdom has the most, with 12 (75%). In the UK the most finds are in Isle of Wight (9), West Sussex (2) and Essex (1).
The rock formation with the most finds is called Wessex, with 7. The rocks are 139.1 to 100.5 million years ago, in the Cretaceous period.
Genus of reptiles (fossil). (Description from Wikidata, CC0.)
Read about Polacanthus on Wikipedia.
- 16finds
- 2countries
- 139.1oldest, million years ago
- 100.5youngest, million years ago
10% of these finds are marked approximate in the database, so their dots may sit some way from the real site.
Which countries have Polacanthus fossils?
| Country | Finds | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 12 | 75% |
| Spain | 4 | 25% |
UK counties
- Isle of Wight (9)
- West Sussex (2)
- Essex (1)
Rock formations that produced Polacanthus
A formation is a named body of rock. These are the ones with the most Polacanthus finds.
| Formation | Finds |
|---|---|
| Wessex | 7 |
| Arcillas de Morella | 1 |
| Ferruginous Sands | 1 |
| Golmayo | 1 |
| Piedrahita de Muñó | 1 |
| Pinilla de los Moros | 1 |
| Tunbridge Wells Sand | 1 |
| Vectis | 1 |
| Wadhurst Clay | 1 |
Other dinosaurs found in United Kingdom
- Iguanodon (132)
- Megalosaurus (60)
- Plateosaurus (36)
- Dacentrurus (31)
- Cetiosaurus (30)
- Mantellisaurus (17)
- Thecodontosaurus (14)
- Scelidosaurus (13)
- Baryonyx (12)
- Valdosaurus (12)
More to explore
Before you go fossil hunting. A dot shows where a find was recorded, not where you may dig. Many fossil sites are on private or protected land and collecting rules differ by country. Check the rules before collecting and never dig on protected sites.
Questions about Polacanthus
Where was Polacanthus found?
Polacanthus fossils are recorded in the Paleobiology Database from United Kingdom and Spain. Most of the 16 finds on this map (12) are from United Kingdom. The rock formation with the most finds is the Wessex (7).
How old are Polacanthus fossils?
Finds of Polacanthus on this map date from 139.1 to 100.5 million years ago, which is the Cretaceous period. Ages are ranges, because rock layers are dated to a stage and not to a single year.
Where can I see Polacanthus fossils near me?
Open the map and press Near me to list the nearest dinosaur finds and the most notable dinosaurs found around you. Remember that a dot shows where scientists recorded a find, not where you can dig: many fossil sites are on private or protected land, so check the rules before collecting and never dig on protected sites.