Pronunciation: ISS-tee-oh-RAH-kiss
Meaning: Sail Back
Author/s: Lockwood et al. (2025)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Isle of Wight, England
Discovery Chart Position: #1176
Istiorachis macarthurae
[MacArthur's Sail Back]
Etymology
Istiorachis is derived from the Greek "istion" (a sail) and "rachis" (spine or backbone). The species epithet, macarthurae, honours Dame Ellen MacArthur, an English sailor who set a world record for the fastest solo non-stop voyage around the world on her first attempt in 2005, tying the sail backed anatomy to her sailed boat.
MacArthur also founded the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust for young people on the Isle of Wight.
ZooBank registry: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:e68743c5-8ab0-4185-abd4-666b2c7d4d96
Discovery
The remains of Istiorachis were found by the late Mr Nicholas Chase in the "Black Band" of the Wessex Formation (Wealden Group), 100?m east of Grange Chine, Isle of Wight, England.
The holotype (MIWG 6643) is a partial skeleton composed of one neckvertebra, eight back vertebrae, three partial ribs, a partial sacrum (a block of fused hip vertebrae), seven tail vertebrae, both pubes and both ischia (hip bones).
Unfortunately the excavation site was poached and an unknown amount of the skeleton was taken before collection could be completed.
