Paleontologists in Spain have discovered fossil remains that confirm the presence of the iconic dinosaur genus Diplodocus outside of North America for the first time, according to research published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. The discovery was made by a research team from the Dinopolis Foundation, based in Teruel in eastern Spain, who recovered the specimens from the rich La Tejería fossil site located in the El Castellar municipality.
First Evidence of Diplodocus Outside North America Discovered in Spain
The recovered fossil material comprises 14 caudal vertebrae and several chevron bones belonging to a single specimen. Researchers dated the sedimentary strata to around 150 million years ago, placing the find in the Late Jurassic period, specifically during the late Kimmeridgian to early Tithonian epochs. Lead author and researcher Sergio Sánchez Fenollosa explained that the anatomical study and evolutionary analyses confirmed the El Castellar specimen belongs to the genus Diplodocus, marking one of the most complete diplodocid skeletons ever discovered in Europe.
Scale and Characteristics of the El Castellar Specimen
Alberto Cobos, managing director of the Dinopolis Foundation and a co-author of the study, stated that the specimen likely measured approximately 25 meters (82 feet) in length. This places the dinosaur among the giant Jurassic sauropods found in the Teruel area, joining other sauropods such as Turiasaurus and Losillasaurus.
First identified from fossils discovered in Wyoming in 1877, Diplodocus has long been recognized as one of the world’s most distinct herbivorous dinosaurs, characterized by a long neck, four sturdy legs, and a whip-like tail. Until this find, confirmed fossil records of the genus were restricted exclusively to North America, primarily within the Morrison Formation in the western United States. The original bones of the El Castellar Diplodocus are exhibited in the dinosaur hall of the Aragonese Paleontological Museum located in Dinópolis, Teruel.
Implications for Late Jurassic Trans-Atlantic Dispersal
The discovery provides critical evidence regarding prehistoric continental connections and animal migrations. During the Late Jurassic, the proto-Atlantic Ocean was in the early stages of formation, leaving North America and Europe in much closer geographic proximity than they are today. Researchers suggest that ephemeral land bridges, episodic sea regressions, or other temporary crossing methods allowed land-based dinosaurs to travel vast distances between the separating continents.
According to the study’s authors, the find constitutes one of the strongest pieces of evidence supporting episodic dispersal events and faunal exchanges across the proto-North Atlantic Ocean. This land connection helps explain how fauna previously associated exclusively with North America, including Diplodocus and Stegosaurus, reached the territory of the Iberian Peninsula.
Research Background and Institutional Support
The scientific paper detailing the discovery is titled Intercontinental evidence of the iconic genus Diplodocus Marsh, 1878 (Dinosauria, Sauropoda)
and was authored by Sergio Sánchez Fenollosa, Josué García Cobeña, and Alberto Cobos. Euronews reported that the research highlights the broader coastal ecosystems of the eastern Iberian Peninsula during the Mesozoic era. The investigation was conducted within the framework of the FOCONTUR research group, supported by the Government of Aragon, the Teruel Paleontology Unit funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and project funding involving European Union resources.
