Genus: Polacanthus OWEN, vide HULKE, 1881
Etymology: Greek, polys, “much, many”, and Greek, akantha, “spine, thorn” + us: “Many spined one”.

Species: foxii HULKE, 1881
Etymology:

Holotype: BMNH R175

Locality: Barnes High, West of Cowleaze Chine, Atherfield, (NGR SZ 443 806), Isle of Wight County, England, Southern United Kingdom.

Horizon: Wessex Formation, Wealden Group, Upper Wealden Marls.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Valanginian-Hauterivian Stage, Neocomian Subepoch- Barremian Stage, Lower Gallic Subepoch, Early Cretaceous Epoch, Early Cretaceous.

Material: A partial skeleton with parts of 5 free dorsal vertebrae, complete synscrum composed of 11 fused elements, 5 dorsosacrals, 4 sacrals and 2 sacrocaudals, 22 free caudals, ossified tendons, 11 fragmentary dorsal ribs, 2 haemal arches, almost complete pelvic girdle including ilia, ischia and pubes, both left and right femora, left tibia ‘with co-ossified astragalus), distal end of left fibula, 2 metatarsals, an ungual phalanx, dermal armor including 7 presacral spines, a right sacral shield, 16 caudal plates, numerous keeled scutes and small ossicles.

Referred material:

CAMSM B53353: Dermal ossicle.

CAMSM B53354-53358: Five dermal ossicles.

CAMSM B53588-53591: Four ossicles.

CAMSM B53594-53597: Four dermal ossicles.

BLOWS, 1987

CAMSM B53593: Dermal ossiclees.


Locality: Compton Bay Beach, Isle of Wight County, England, Southern United Kingdom.

Horizon: Wealden Shales, Vetis Formation.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Upper Barremian Stage, Lower Gallic Subepoch, Middle Early Cretaaceous Epoch, Early Cretaceous.

Material:

BMNH R9293 (Blows Collection): 3 skull fragments, ?nasal, supraoccipital, angular, left neural arch of atlas, (?) fourth cervical vertebra, four dorsal vertebrae and vertebral process, sacrum with part neural arch, two caudal vertebrae (?first and second), two fragments of ilium, portion of ischium, two ribs complete, parts of three more ribs, rib head and fragments, terminal phalanx, ossified tendons, numerous endoskelatal fragments, five dermal plates (caudal series), four dermal spines (presacral series), two dermal spines (presacral series), one spiked plate (?caudal), 10 large pieces of sacroiliac shield, 15 smaller pieces of sacro-iliac shield, 36 dermal ossicles, numerous dermal fragments, small complete bone (one side of bilateral pair) of unknown origin.

BLOWS, 1987

Locality: ?, England.

Horizon: ?

Biostratigraphy:?

Age:?

Material:

MIWG 37: 7 ossicles, 1 tail plate base.

MIWG 1191a: Dorsal spine.

CAMSM B53595: Dermal ossicles.

BMNH 34533 (Backhouse Collection): Dermal ossicle.