First Diplodocus Fossil Found Outside of North America Discovered in Teruel, Spain

A Discovery 18 Years in the Making at El Castellar

The excavation began in 2008 after a local resident of El Castellar discovered fossilized bones protruding from the rocks at the La Tejería site and notified researchers at the Fundación Dinópolis. Subsequent field campaigns in 2014 and 2015 utilized heavy machinery to expand the dig site and recover as many skeletal elements from the single animal as possible. The recovered bones were then transported to the institution’s restoration laboratory for preparation and consolidation before being placed on permanent display at the Museo Aragonés de Paleontología. Specific scientific study of the specimen commenced roughly two years prior to its publication, according to researcher Sergio Sánchez Fenollosa, the first author of the study. Initial laboratory work established that the vertebrae belonged to the diplodocid family of sauropods, which includes genera such as Apatosaurus and Barosaurus. Researchers then undertook a detailed comparative analysis against specimens worldwide. The anatomical identification relied primarily on a sequence of 14 middle and posterior tail vertebrae alongside chevron bones. According to Sánchez Fenollosa, the bones display features unique to the genus Diplodocus, including an elongated vertebral center, an absence of lateral crests, and a deep ventral groove on the underside of the vertebrae.

Revisiting Late Jurassic Transatlantic Faunal Exchange

The findings were published in the international journal Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology by researchers from the Teruel-based institution. Alberto Cobos, the director-gerente of the Fundación Dinópolis and co-author of the study, noted that finding the remains outside of the Morrison Formation in the United States provides significant insight into prehistoric biogeography.

“Es la descripción y definición del único Diplodocus que, por ahora, se conoce fuera de Estados Unidos”, stated Alberto Cobos, director-gerente of the Fundación Dinópolis.

The presence of the roughly 25-meter-long herbivore in Europe supports geological models proposing land connections between North America and the Iberian Peninsula during the Late Jurassic. According to research findings, lowered sea levels during this era may have created a terrestrial corridor between modern-day Newfoundland and northwestern Spain, facilitating the migration of large dinosaur species. This migratory pattern aligns with the presence of other dinosaur genera found in both regions, including Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and Trovosaurus. The specimen also ranks among the most complete diplodocid skeletons recovered in Europe, where the fossil record for this particular group remains sparse.

Ongoing Paleontological Research in Teruel

The Fundación Dinópolis manages numerous excavation projects across the province of Teruel, targeting strata from both the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods. Institution officials report that more than 60,000 fossils have been recovered across these sites.

“Llevamos 28 años investigando dinosaurios y haciendo ciencia desde Teruel para el mundo. Este descubrimiento es un ejemplo de cómo la investigación también puede convertirse en desarrollo territorial”, stated Alberto Cobos regarding the institution’s ongoing work.

Researchers plan to continue field excavations and laboratory analysis across the region’s fossil deposits, maintaining active work programs for future generations of paleontologists.