Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology· 2026Q1
Intercontinental evidence of the iconic genus Diplodocus Marsh, 1878 (Dinosauria, Sauropoda)
- 2citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A new, nearly complete Diplodocus skeleton from Spain provides the first intercontinental evidence for the genus, suggesting Late Jurassic faunal exchange across the proto-North Atlantic.
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Key points
- A new Diplodocus specimen, one of the most complete found in Europe, was discovered in Spain.
- Osteological and phylogenetic analyses confirm the specimen belongs to the genus Diplodocus.
- This discovery provides the first intercontinental evidence for the genus Diplodocus.
- The finding supports episodic dispersal events and faunal exchanges across the proto-North Atlantic during the Late Jurassic.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
The sauropod Diplodocus is one of the most iconic dinosaurs, with fossils traditionally known from the Morrison Formation (U.S.A.; Kimmeridgian–Tithonian). Here, we describe a new diplodocid specimen recovered from the Villar del Arzobispo Formation (El Castellar, Teruel, Spain; upper Kimmeridgian–Tithonian). This specimen represents one of the most complete diplodocid skeletons discovered in Europe, consisting of 14 caudal vertebrae and several chevrons. Osteological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference) consistently placed the specimen within the genus Diplodocus. This discovery enhances and expands our understanding of sauropod diversity in the Late Jurassic coastal ecosystems of eastern Iberia. Moreover, it provides the first intercontinental evidence of this genus and 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.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 2026 · DOI ↗
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