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Dacentrurus Armatus Skull Discovered in Spain Is the Most Complete of its Kind Ever Found in Europe and Leads to the Proposal of a New Evolutionary Group.
A fossilized skull found in Spain is revealing new details about stegosaurs. At 150 million years old, the fossil is the most complete of its kind ever discovered in Europe.
The identified species is Dacentrurus armatus, and the study reinforces the importance of the site “Están de Colón” in Riodeva for world paleontology.
Discovery in Jurassic Sediments
The fossil was found in the Villar del Arzobispo Formation, which dates to the Late Jurassic. The site, known for its richness in fossils, has attracted researchers interested in understanding the history of dinosaurs in Europe.
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According to the team from the Teruel-Dinópolis Joint Paleontological Foundation, the skull is incredibly well preserved.
Sergio Sánchez Fenollosa, a co-author of the study, explained that the discovery occurs in the same year that marks 150 years since the first description of Dacentrurus armatus, considered the quintessential European stegosaur.
The level of conservation of the skull allows for the observation of details rarely found in fossils of this group.
Armored Dinosaurs and Their Plates
Stegosaurs are easily recognized by the large bony plates running down their backs. The function of these structures is still debated, but theories suggest uses ranging from defense to thermal regulation.
These dinosaurs primarily lived in the Late Jurassic, but some species persisted into the Early Cretaceous.
The new fossil helps to better understand the evolution of these animals. Skulls are delicate parts that are difficult to preserve, as they possess thin structures that typically degrade before fossilization. Therefore, the preservation of this specimen is considered a rare find.
Proposal for a New Evolutionary Group
From the analysis of the skull, researchers proposed the creation of a new group within stegosaurs: Neostegosauria. This group would include medium to large stegosaurs with a wide geographical distribution.
According to the scholars, fossils of the group have already been found in Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia, dating from the Middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous.
Alberto Cobos, managing director of the Fundación Dinópolis and co-author of the publication, stated that the proposal marks a milestone in stegosaur paleontology.
Hidden Treasure in Riodeva
The site “Están de Colón” continues to surprise scientists. Researchers believe that there are still more fossils at the location, possibly including parts of the same dinosaur and even juvenile specimens. Discoveries like this are extremely rare, especially in the case of juvenile individuals.
Alberto Cobos emphasized that the Teruel region is establishing itself as one of the major centers of paleontological research in the world. The local scientific heritage has grown consistently in recent years.
Fossil Market on the Rise
In addition to scientific advancement, dinosaur fossils are also gaining prominence in the market. In 2023, a stegosaur skeleton nicknamed “Apex” was auctioned for US$ 44.6 million in New York, setting a new record.
The skeleton showed signs of rheumatoid arthritis, indicating that the animal had a long life. Until then, the record was held by the Tyrannosaurus rex fossil called “Stan,” sold in 2020 for US$ 31.8 million.
Complete information about the new discovery was published in the journal Vertebrate Zoology, establishing the study as an international reference in work on stegosaurs.
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