Researchers in Spain have uncovered the first skeletal evidence of a Diplodocus dinosaur outside of North America, according to a study published this week in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. The discovery, unearthed at the La Tejeria fossil site in the El Castellar municipality by a team from the Dinopolis Foundation in Teruel, consists of various vertebrae and chevron bones dating back approximately 150 million years. This finding provides one of the strongest pieces of evidence for land-based faunal exchanges between North America and Europe during the Late Jurassic period.
Uncovering European Diplodocid Remains at La Tejeria
The research team conducted a systematic analysis of 14 caudal vertebrae and several chevron bones found in eastern Spain. According to the published study, this material “reveals that it can be confidently referred to as Diplodocus,” a genus of long-necked sauropod herbivore with a vast tail. The authors of the paper concluded that the discovery is “one of the most complete diplodocid skeletons from Europe,” adding a major specimen to a region where the fossil record for this group has historically remained scarce and fragmentary.
Did you know?
While the Diplodocus is globally famous—partly thanks to “Dippy,” the skeletal cast displayed at the British Natural History Museum—scientists previously believed these massive herbivores lived exclusively in North America.
How Dinosaurs Crossed the Proto-Atlantic Ocean
The presence of identical dinosaur genera on separate continents raises questions about prehistoric migration. During the Late Jurassic, the continents were only just starting to drift apart. Scientists have theorized that ephemeral land bridges, episodic sea regressions, or other temporary geographic connections across the proto-Atlantic Ocean occasionally allowed land-based dinosaurs to move vast distances.
Recent fossil discoveries in Spain and Portugal near the Atlantic coast reinforce this concept. According to the study’s authors, the new find “constitutes one of the strongest pieces of evidence of episodic dispersal events and faunal exchanges across the proto-North Atlantic Ocean during the late Kimmeridgian–early Tithonian” period, roughly 150 million years ago. Other prehistoric migration routes are believed to have linked North America with Scandinavia, as well as connecting what is now Brazil to Cameroon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the Diplodocus skeleton found?
Researchers found the bones at the La Tejeria fossil site in the El Castellar municipality, located in eastern Spain.
Why is finding a Diplodocus in Europe significant?
Until this discovery, physical fossil remains of the Diplodocus had only been recovered in North America. This find supports the theory that temporary land bridges enabled dinosaurs to cross the proto-Atlantic Ocean.
Who conducted the research?
A team from the Dinopolis Foundation in Teruel studied the site and published their findings in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
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