Neovenator salerii (Dinosauria: Theropoda), from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) Wessex Formation (Wealden Group) of the Isle of Wight, is the most complete large theropod known from Europe. Here we present a complete description of the holotype and referred specimens, which together comprise approximately 70% of the skeleton. Neovenator possesses numerous autapomorphies and clearly belongs to Allosauroidea, a clade of basal tetanuran theropods that includes Allosaurus, Sinraptor, and the Carcharodontosauridae, a subgroup that contains some of the largest known theropods. Several synapomorphies support Neovenator as the basalmost member of Carcharodontosauridae. These are primarily features of the postcranial skeleton, indicating that large body size and the highly apomorphic skull of derived carcharodontosaurids evolved after changes to the axial and appendicular skeleton. This placement suggests that basal carcharodontosaurids were more widespread before becoming restricted to Gondwana later in their evolution.
