First Diplodocus Dinosaur Fossil Discovered in Europe

Paleontologists have confirmed the presence of the Diplodocus dinosaur outside North America for the first time. This discovery alters scientific understanding of where this famous dinosaur lived during the Late Jurassic period. Researchers from Fundación Conjunto Paleontológico de Teruel–Dinópolis have described the fossil in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. The specimen is one of the most complete diplodocid skeletons found in Europe to date. It was unearthed in the La Tejería area of El Castellar, Teruel, Spain. During excavation, the team recovered 14 tail vertebrae and several chevron bones.

Previously, all known Diplodocus fossils had been found only in the Morrison Formation of western North America. Through anatomical and evolutionary analyses, the researchers identified the specimen as Diplodocus. Sergio Sánchez-Fenoyos, a scientist at Dinópolis, stated, “This excavation provides the strongest evidence of fauna migration between two continents across the ocean in the Late Jurassic.” The European Diplodocus lived approximately 150 million years ago at the end of the Jurassic period. Its presence in Europe indicates dinosaurs could have migrated between North America and Europe during that time.

According to the researchers, these animals may have crossed the ocean via temporary land bridges formed due to sea-level drops in the Proto-North Atlantic Ocean. This Spanish Diplodocus measured about 25 meters in length. Co-author Dr. Alberto Cobos of Dinópolis remarked, “All these dinosaur fossils have made Teruel an important site for studying great diversity.” Thanks to the excellent fossil preservation, the team was able to identify many anatomical details using traditional physical comparisons and advanced phylogenetic analyses. The results confirm the specimen belongs to the genus Diplodocus and is closely related to Diplodocus hallorum.

The fossils are now displayed in the Dinosaur Hall at the Museo Aragonés de Paleontología in Teruel. Diplodocus is one of the world’s most iconic dinosaurs, recognized for its length of up to 25 meters, long whip-like tail, and small skull. Since its first discovery in America in 1878, its skeletons have been housed in major museums worldwide. This find adds new insight into the dinosaur diversity of eastern Iberia during the Late Jurassic. The area has also yielded remains from various dinosaur groups including sauropods, theropods, stegosaurs, and ornithopods, suggesting a complex and diverse dinosaur ecosystem in coastal environments at that time.