NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — Paleontologists have discovered a new species of dinosaur that lived on the Iberian Peninsula more than 122 million years ago. This amazing sauropod, named Garumbatitan morellensis, was discovered in the Morella region of Spain and sheds light on the diversity of dinosaur populations that inhabited Europe during the Early Cretaceous period.
The Morella region has a rich history of fossil discoveries, with some of Spain’s earliest dinosaur fossils discovered. Recent excavations have uncovered a large number of fossil vertebrates from the Mesozoic era, including ornithopod dinosaurs such as Morelladon beltrani and other sauropods.
The discovery of Garumbatitan morellensis further strengthened Morella’s reputation as a treasure trove for paleontologists.
Garumbatitan morellensis belongs to a group of sauropods known for their enormous size, herbivorous diet, quadrupedal position, and long necks and tails. What sets the newly discovered dinosaur apart are its unique anatomical features. Its femur bears similarities to later Late Cretaceous sauropods, while its foot has distinctive morphological features.
The discovery of two almost complete and articulated paws in this deposit is a rarity in the geological record.
The study of Garumbatitan morellensis sheds light on the complex evolutionary history of sauropods in Europe, particularly the Iberian Peninsula. The presence of species related to lineages from Asia, North America and Africa indicates periods of faunal dispersal between these continents.
Pedro Mocho, a paleontologist at the University of Lisbon, explains: “Our results suggest periods of faunal dispersal between these continents,” highlighting the interconnectedness of dinosaur populations across the globe.
The name Garumbatitan morellensis is significant. The word “Garumbatitan” means “giant of Garumba”, which pays tribute to the base of the Mola de la Garumba, where this specimen was discovered. The name “Morellensis” is a tribute to the location of the deposit in Morell.
These fossils are now part of the extensive collection of the Temps Dinosaur Museum in Morella, enriching the offer of the network of museums of the Valencian Community.
The introduction of Garumbatitan morellensis to the scientific community not only highlights the diversity of dinosaur populations in the Early Cretaceous, but also provides valuable insights into their evolutionary history.
Francisco Ortega, co-author of the study from the National University of Distance Education (UNED), emphasizes that the recovery of all fossil materials found in this deposit will provide critical information for understanding the initial evolution of sauropods, which dominated the dinosaur fauna during the last million years of the Mesozoic era.
– “One of the individuals we found stands out for its large size: the width of the vertebrae exceeds one meter, and the length of the femur can reach two meters.” – Pedro Mocho, University of Lisbon.
“Our study highlights the enormous complexity of the evolutionary history of European Cretaceous sauropods.” – Pedro Mocho, University of Lisbon.
“In the future, the recovery of all fossil materials found in this deposit will provide important information for understanding the initial evolution of this group of sauropods.” – Francisco Ortega, National University of Distance Education (UNED).
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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