Publications
A new species of Polacanthus (Ornithischia; Ankylosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Sussex, England, by W. T. Blows, published November 1996 in Geological Magazine (vol. 133, issue 6, article, pp.671-682) View Online
Abstract:The first specimen of the ankylosaur genus Polacanthus from the mainland Barremian of southeast England is described as Polacanthus rudgwickensis sp.nov. Polacanthus rudgwickensis is larger than Polacanthus foxii, and there are significant differences in the dermal armour, the tibia and caudal vertebrae of the two species. Polacanthus foxii appears to be restricted at present to the Isle of Wight with one specimen from southwest England, whilst Polacanthus rudgwickensis is only known from Sussex. This geographical distribution, the palaeobiological implications and possible sexual dimorphism are discussed for this genus.
First Valanginian Polacanthus foxii (Dinosauria, Ankylosauria) from England, from the Lower Cretaceous of Bexhill, Sussex, by William T. Blows and Kerri Honeysett, published 2014 in The Proceedings of the Geologists' Association London (no. 125 issue 2, article, pp.233-251) View Online
Abstract:A new partial skeleton of the armoured ornithischian dinosaur Polacanthus found in the Wadhurst Clay Formation (Valanginian stage) of Bexhill, Sussex is the oldest recorded occurrence of this taxon. Previous discoveries suggested that at least two armoured ornithischians occur in the Wealden succession: Polacanthus, which was mostly restricted to the Barremian, and Hylaeosaurus, which was recorded as present only in the Valanginian. The new discovery extends the stratigraphic range of Polacanthus into the Valanginian. Although these two taxa appear to be closely similar anatomically, their osteology now suggests they are not synonymous. The new specimen includes the first known jugal as well as a comparatively rare polacanthid plate/spine (splate) which probably comes from the shoulder (pectoral) area of these animals.