Paleontologists from the Fundación Dinópolis published in Vertebrate Zoology the study of an exceptional skull of Dacentrurus armatus, discovered in Riodeva (Teruel). The fossil, dated at 150 million years, provides insights into the cranial anatomy of stegosaurs and proposes a new evolutionary hypothesis.
The skull originates from the site «Están de Colón» in the Villar del Arzobispo Formation, corresponding to the Late Jurassic. It has been identified as belonging to Dacentrurus armatus, a species described 150 years ago. This finding also includes post-cranial elements from an adult specimen and remains of juvenile individuals.
The analysis reveals previously unknown details of the cranial structure of stegosaurs, a feature that has rarely been preserved. Sergio Sánchez Fenollosa highlights the value of the finding for understanding the evolution of the skull in this group of dinosaurs.
The creation of the group Neostegosauria has been proposed, which would include species from Africa, Europe, America, and Asia. This group would span from the Middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous, presenting specimens of medium to large size. Alberto Cobos emphasizes the international relevance of the discovery and the paleontological richness of the Teruel region, which continues to be investigated with future publications planned.
The project has been developed by the Group E04-23R FOCONTUR, under the auspices of the Government of Aragón. It also receives support from the Teruel Investment Fund, financed by the Government of Spain and Aragón, and is included in the Paleontology Unit of Teruel, supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science.
