First Diplodocus outside North America discovered in Spain

The visual and contextual reconstruction of the dinosaur was created by Carmelo López, from the Department of Graphic Expression at EINA (UNIZAR). The artwork was produced using a combination of 3D digital sculpting techniques and generative artificial intelligence trained for the reconstruction of Mesozoic landscapes

A team of researchers has confirmed the discovery of Diplodocus remains in El Castellar (Teruel, Spain), one of the most iconic dinosaurs of the Jurassic period. This is the first confirmed evidence of this genus outside North America, significantly expanding its known geographical range.

The fossils, dating back approximately 150 million years, consist of 14 exceptionally well-preserved tail vertebrae and several associated bones. Their study has allowed scientists to confidently identify this giant herbivorous sauropod, which is estimated to have reached around 25 metres in length.

Tail vertebrae of the Diplodocus discovered at the La Tejería site in El Castellar (Teruel, Spain)

Until now, all accepted Diplodocus remains had been found exclusively in the United States. As a result, the discovery in Teruel represents a major step forward in understanding the history and distribution of these dinosaurs during the Late Jurassic. Furthermore, the presence of Diplodocus on the Iberian Peninsula strengthens the hypothesis that temporary land connections existed between Europe and North America around 150 million years ago. These routes may have enabled the exchange of animal species between the two continents while the Atlantic Ocean was beginning to form.

This discovery highlights the extraordinary paleontological richness of the Teruel region and provides valuable new clues about how dinosaurs were distributed across the planet at a time when the continents looked very different from today.

The research has been published in the prestigious journal Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology and has attracted worldwide attention.