Scientists discover the first diplodocus ever found outside North America

Paleontologists have identified the first known evidence of Diplodocus outside North America, a discovery that changes scientists' understanding of where the iconic dinosaur lived during the Late Jurassic.

The sauropod fossils were described by researchers from the Fundaci n Conjunto Paleontol gico de Teruel-Din polis in the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . The specimen is also among the most complete diplodocid skeletons ever uncovered in Europe.

The fossils were discovered at the La Tejer a site in El Castellar, Teruel, Spain. During excavations, a team of paleontologists from the Fundaci n Din polis recovered 14 exceptionally well-preserved caudal (tail) vertebrae along with several chevron bones.

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