Spanish fossils reveal first Diplodocus discovery outside North America
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Paleontologists working at the La Tejería fossil site in Spain identified 14 tail vertebrae belonging to a Diplodocus, a long-necked dinosaur previously known only from North America.
The team unearthed the bones during excavations from 2008 to 2015 near El Castellar in eastern Spain. These fossils represent the middle and rear portion of the dinosaur’s tail and are among the most complete diplodocid remains found in Europe, where such fossils are rare.
Researchers analyzed 23 features of the vertebrae and compared them to data from 36 dinosaur types, consistently finding the Spanish specimen belonged to the Diplodocus genus and was closely related to Diplodocus hallorum. However, because the find lacks a skull, neck, and limbs, the scientists could only classify the animal as Diplodocus sp., leaving open the possibility it represents a new species or a North American species that migrated to Europe.
The discovery supports the idea that Europe and North America were connected by temporary land bridges during the Late Jurassic period, around 150 million years ago, allowing dinosaurs to move between the continents. Other dinosaur genera like Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and Torvosaurus have also been found in both regions.
The Spanish Diplodocus is estimated to have been about 25 meters long, similar in size to its North American relatives, and adds to a growing collection of giant sauropods found in the Teruel region of Spain.
