It was a great start to 2025 for fans of UK fossil sites.  The University of Birmingham sent out a media release about the investigation into extensive dinosaur trackways found in Oxfordshire. Five dinosaur trackways dating back to the Middle Jurassic had been unearthed in an Oxfordshire quarry.  Four of the trackways were made by sauropods.  The research team behind this remarkable research suggested that the footprints could have been made by a dinosaur such as Cetiosaurus (Cetiosaurus oxoniensis).  The research project was co-led by the University of Birmingham and the University of Oxford.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post about the dinosaur tracks: Remarkable “Dinosaur Highway” Found in Oxfordshire.

Mike and Sue from Everything Dinosaur remembered visiting the wonderful Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH) and viewing the Cetiosaurus (Cetiosaurus oxoniensis) fossil specimens on display.

Cetiosaurus Fossils on Display

Fossils ascribed to the taxon Cetiosaurus on display at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows several sauropod fossils on display at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.  A femur is shown on far left. The large bones in the centre are a right scapula and a right humerus. The fossil bones adjacent to them are from the lower portion of the forelimb (right ulna and right radius). Above these limb bones several caudal vertebrae (tail bones) are displayed.  These fossils have been assigned to the taxon Cetiosaurus.  The fossils represent some of the very first sauropod bones to have been extensively studied.

Cetiosaurus was the first sauropod to be named (Owen, 1841).  At the time, Richard Owen thought the bones represented some sort of giant marine crocodile – hence the name which translates as “whale lizard”.

The enormous and robust right femur of a Middle Jurassic sauropod. The femur has been ascribed to the taxon Cetiosaurus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The image (above) shows a close-up view of the huge right femur of a sauropod.  This fossil bone has been assigned to Cetiosaurus.  The text in the exhibit refers to Cetiosaurus as the “Oxford Brontosaur”.  However, the exact taxonomy of Cetiosaurus oxoniensis is disputed although it is quite certain that it was only very distantly related to diplodocids such as Brontosaurus.

Cetiosaurus and Megalosaurus

The theropod trackway has been tentatively assigned to Megalosaurus.  Megalosaurus is another iconic dinosaur that has links to the OUMNH.  Although Megalosaurus has become something of a taxon wastebasket, the only fossil remains ascribed to Megalosaurus with any degree of consensus were found in Oxfordshire.  The track site provides some tantalising evidence of sauropod and theropod interaction.  For example, some of the tracks intersect.  A theropod dinosaur walked over tracks made by a sauropod.  There is no way of knowing how much later the meat-eater walked in the same direction as the herbivorous dinosaur. Perhaps the theropod was stalking the sauropod.

As part of the University of Birmingham media release we received some wonderful artwork from the very talented Mark Witton.  In the illustration, a Megalosaurus attacks a juvenile sauropod.

A Megalosaurus attacks a Cetiosaurus. Picture credit: Mark Witton.

Picture credit: Mark Witton

The remarkable Oxfordshire track site will feature in a BBC Two documentary.  In addition, the OUMNH will open a special exhibition about the dinosaur tracks shortly.

The CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Cetiosaurus figure.  A model of an early sauropod that lived during the Middle Jurassic.

The picture (above) shows a Cetiosaurus model.  This dinosaur model was introduced into the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range in 2010.

To view the range of not-to-scale CollectA prehistoric animal figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric Life Age of Dinosaurs Popular Figures.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“The images we received from Birmingham University reminded us of our visit to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.  It was wonderful to be able to view the Cetiosaurus oxoniensis fossils.  It is a fabulous museum with some amazing exhibits.”

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Models and Toys.