Full Breakdown
First Diplodocus Fossils Identified in Europe
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Core Discovery
Paleontologists from the Fundación Dinópolis and the Joint Paleontology Foundation Teruel-Dinópolis uncovered the first confirmed Diplodocus remains outside North America at the La Tejería site near El Castellar in Teruel, eastern Spain. The find consists of 14 well-preserved caudal vertebrae and several chevron bones, dated to roughly 150 million years ago (Late Jurassic). Researchers identified the specimen as a member of the Diplodocus genus, closely related to *Diplodocus hallorum*, and estimated its total length at about 25 m (? 82 ft).
Background & Context
All previously known Diplodocus fossils had been recovered from the Morrison Formation in the western United States, making the genus a hallmark of North American Jurassic fauna. Recent discoveries of other giant sauropods in the Iberian Peninsula have expanded knowledge of European Jurassic ecosystems, but the Diplodocus record remained absent until this excavation. The new specimen adds evidence that temporary land bridges or sea-level regressions in the proto-North Atlantic allowed faunal exchanges between North America and Europe during the late Kimmeridgian–early Tithonian interval.
Key Figures & Groups
- Sergio Sánchez Fenollosa – Ph.D. student, lead author.
- Dr. Alberto Cobos – Managing director, co-author.
- Fundación Dinópolis – Coordinates the excavation and analysis.
- Joint Paleontology Foundation Teruel-Dinópolis – Published the findings in the *Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology*.
Data & Statistics
- Specimen composition: 14 caudal vertebrae and several chevron bones.
- Estimated length: ~25 m (? 82 ft).
- Age: Approximately 150 million years (Late Jurassic).
- Geological setting: La Tejería fossil site, El Castellar municipality, Teruel province, Spain.
Why It Matters
The discovery challenges the view that Diplodocus was confined to North America and supports hypotheses of intermittent land bridges that enabled large terrestrial vertebrates to migrate between the continents. It also reinforces the Iberian Peninsula’s status as a reference locality for Late Jurassic dinosaur diversity, complementing regional sauropods such as *Turiasaurus* and *Losillasaurus*.
Official Statements & Responses
The team emphasized that systematic study of the vertebrae and chevrons allowed a confident referral to the Diplodocus genus. They noted the anatomy matches that of North American relatives, underscoring a close evolutionary relationship, and called for additional, more complete specimens to determine whether the European individual represents a known North American species or a distinct form.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are delighted with this discovery,” — Fundación Dinópolis Ph.D.
- “The Diplodocus from El Castellar was approximately 25 m long, making it another of the giant sauropods of the Spanish Jurassic, alongside other sauropod dinosaurs from Teruel with characteristics very different from those of diplodocids, such as Turiasaurus and Losillasaurus, among others,” — Dr. Alberto Cobos
- “The outcome of the dig is some of the strongest paleontological evidence for episodes of dispersal and faunal exchange between the two continents across the proto-Atlantic Ocean during the Late Jurassic,” — Sánchez Fenollosa
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources present a consistent picture of the specimen’s identification, age, and significance. The primary gap is the lack of a more complete skeleton, which limits precise species-level assignment and hampers detailed biomechanical or ecological analyses.