Dragon fossil named after Harry Potter

A newly discovered dinosaur has been named Dracorex Hogwartsia — because it looks like the dragon in Harry Potter.

Scientists noticed a similarity between the 66million-year-old creature and the beast in The Goblet of Fire.

So they named it after the young magician’s school Hogwarts.

Author JK Rowling said: “The naming is easily the most unexpected honour to come my way since the publication of the Harry Potter books.

“I am absolutely thrilled that Hogwarts has made a small mark upon the fascinating world of dinosaurs.

“My eldest daughter was Utahraptor-obsessed and I live with a Tyrannosaurus Rex lover, aged three.”

Fossil collectors Steve and Patrick Saulsbury and Brian Buckmeier found the dinosaur’s remains in Iowa, USA.
Dracorex hogwartsia comes from the Latin words draco (meaning dragon), rex (meaning king), and hogwartsia (after the fictional Hogwarts).

The fossil has been donated to a US museum. In The Goblet of Fire Harry takes part in the Triwizard Tournament.

The first task of the tournament challenges each character to recover a golden egg nestling underneath a giant dragon.

Harry draws the most fearsome dragon of all — the Hungarian Horntail.