The sauropod fossils are described in a peer-reviewed paper published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology by researchers from the Teruel-Dinópolis Paleontology Foundation. The specimen is also one of the most complete diplodocid skeletons ever discovered in Europe.

The First Diplodocus Fossil Discovered in Europe

The fossil was discovered at the La Tejería ruins in El Castellar, Teruel, Spain. During excavations, paleontologists from the Dinópolis Foundation uncovered 14 exceptionally well-preserved caudal vertebrae, along with several chevron-shaped bones.

Before this discovery, all confirmed Diplodocus specimens had been found in the Morrison Formation of the western United States.

Sergio Sánchez Fenollosa, a PhD student in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology at the Dinópolis Foundation and lead author of the study, described the identification process:

“It was an exciting and ongoing process to watch the pieces of the puzzle gradually fall into place. From the early stages of osteological studies, we noticed strong similarities between some diplodocids and sauropods. As we progressed, we began to identify combinations of traits that were characteristic of the Diplodocus species. As we subsequently performed different evolutionary analyses, they continued to point in the same direction. With each new result, the picture became clearer.”

Fenollosa added that the excavation results provide strong paleontological evidence of episodes of dispersal and faunal exchange between North America and Europe across the proto-Atlantic during the Late Jurassic.

“Essentially, this discovery allows us to better understand the diversity of sauropod dinosaurs that lived in the Iberian Mesozoic ecosystem and the Jurassic period of Europe.”

Evidence of Connections Between Jurassic Continents

The Spanish Diplodocus lived near the end of the Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago. Its presence in Europe provides strong evidence that dinosaurs were able to migrate between North America and Europe during this time.

Researchers believe these animals may have crossed a temporary land bridge that appeared when sea levels fell during a regression of the proto-North Atlantic.

The discovery therefore identifies more than a new location for Diplodocus. It also provides evidence of a period when dinosaur populations and other animals could migrate between the two continents.

A 25-Meter-Long Giant in Spain

Dr. Alberto Cobos, co-author and managing director of the Dinópolis Foundation, said the Diplodocus from El Castellar was approximately 25 meters long, comparable in size to its North American relatives. Its size is similar to that of Turiasaurus, making it one of the giant sauropods known from Jurassic Spain.

Along with other sauropod fossils from Teruel, the specimen demonstrates the remarkable diversity of Jurassic dinosaurs in the region.

“All these dinosaur fossils, including the new Diplodocus specimen, make Teruel a reference site for understanding this great diversity,” Cobos said.

The newly identified Diplodocus joins an already impressive collection of giant sauropods known from the Jurassic period of Spain. Together, these fossils reveal how diverse the giant dinosaurs of the region once were.

An Exceptionally Well-Preserved Diplodocus Fossil

The excellent preservation of the specimen allowed researchers to identify several anatomical features associated with Diplodocus, including:

• Large air spaces within the vertebrae
• A deep longitudinal groove along the underside of the caudal vertebrae
• Distinctive bifurcated chevron-shaped bones with a unique medial fossa
• Elongated vertebral centra without lateral ridges

The research team combined traditional anatomical comparisons with advanced phylogenetic analyses, including maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. The results placed the specimen within the genus Diplodocus and identified it as a close relative of Diplodocus hallorum.

The fossils are currently on display for continued research and public education in the Dinosaur Hall of the Aragonés Museum of Paleontology at Dinópolis, Teruel, a city in eastern Spain between Madrid and Valencia.

One of the World’s Most Famous Dinosaurs

Diplodocus ranks among the most famous dinosaurs ever discovered. It is known for its enormous body, which could reach up to 25 meters in length, its long whip-like tail, and its relatively small head.

Since Diplodocus was first discovered in the United States in 1878, skeleton models have been displayed in major natural history museums around the world, particularly during the early 20th century. These exhibits helped make Diplodocus an international symbol of paleontology and one of the best-known dinosaurs in popular culture.

Its frequent appearance in museum exhibits and audiovisual productions about dinosaurs has also made it one of the most recognizable “terrible lizards” among the general public.

The Diverse Dinosaur Ecosystem of Jurassic Iberia

The discovery adds new information about the dinosaur diversity of eastern Iberia during the Late Jurassic period.

The area surrounding the fossil site has produced fossils from numerous dinosaur groups, including sauropods, theropods, stegosaurs, and ornithopods. These fossils suggest that the region’s ancient coastal environment supported a complex and highly diverse dinosaur ecosystem.