Paleontologists in Spain say they have found the first evidence of the long-necked Diplodocus genus of dinosaur outside of North America. They found bones at the rich La Tejeria fossil site in Teruel in eastern Spain.
'Dippy' the Diplodocus in the British Natural History Museum contributed to making the giant herbivore one of the most recognizable Jurassic creatures of them all [FILE: September 2016]Image: Travelshots/Visually/picture alliance
The team from the Dinopolis Foundation in Teruel, studying the rich La Tejeria fossil site in the El Castellar municipality, said the dinosaur joined a growing list of giant sauropods found in the area.
Although the long-necked herbivore with its vast tail is one of the world's most recognizable dinosaurs, fossilized remains had until this point only been recovered in North America.
Dinosaurs like the Diplodocus and Stegosaurus were once thought to have lived exclusively on the North American continent but more and more evidence to the contrary is now being unearthedImage: Andia.fr/imageBROKER/picture alliance
What did the researchers say about the find?
The paper published on Monday concluded that the find was "one of the most complete diplodocid skeletons from Europe."
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It said that systematic study and analysis of 14 caudal vertebrae and several chevron bones "reveals that it can be confidently referred to as Diplodocus," one of several genuses in the diplodocid family of sauropod dinosaurs.
"This discovery consists of the first evidence of Diplodocus outside North America (Morrison Formation) and is one of the strongest piece of evidence that supports the exchange of continental faunas between North America and Europe during the Late Jurassic," the authors wrote.
Although the diplodocus is well known worldwide, not least thanks to the famous skeletal cast nicknamed "Dippy" that for years greeted visitors entering the British Natural History Museum, the researchers said that the "European diplodocid fossil record is scarce and fragmentary."
Paleontologists have uncovered important fossils in northeastern Thailand. The finds will help close evolutionary gaps in Earth's history — and could boost a fledgling dinosaur tourism industry.
Image: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP
Sensational skeleton
The skeleton of a Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, a herbivorous long-necked sauropod, is now on show at the Thainosaur Museum in Bangkok. At around 27 meters (88 feet) long and weighing 27 tons — as much as nine adult Asian elephants — it's considered the largest dinosaur ever discovered in Southeast Asia.
Image: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP
Intensive investigation
The fossils of the giant herbivore were found 10 years ago in northeastern Thailand, but first had to be investigated and verified before researchers could clearly identify them. Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis was only officially scientifically recognized in May 2026 after a publication in the journal Scientific Reports.
Image: Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP
Full of fossils
Most dinosaur fossils are discovered in northeastern Thailand, in Phu Wiang National Park, which is why the region is jokingly referred to as "Thailand's Jurassic Park." Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, a PhD student from University College London, told the AFP news agency that the dry climate and sparse vegetation leave fossil-bearing rocks exposed, and easy to find.
Image: Watsamon Tri-Yasakda/AFP
Brilliant bones
The remains of another herbivore, Minimocursor phunoiensis, were also discovered at the Phu Noi site in northeastern Thailand. It is considered one of the best-preserved dinosaur skeletons ever found in Southeast Asia. Uragasaurus was also identified in July 2026 — the first dinosaur of its kind in Thailand.
Image: Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP
Exploring Earth's history
Many of the Thai finds date from the transition period between the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods around 140 million years ago and provide important clues to the evolution of dinosaurs. "The timeframe of our discoveries fills a geological gap or missing link present in records of other countries," paleontologist Suravech Suteethorn from Thailand's Mahasarakham University told AFP.
Image: Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP
Family tradition
Together with his father Varavudh, Suteethorn uncovers the huge neck of a fossil at Phu Wiang National Park. The two paleontologists hope that the bones represent another new species of dinosaur in Thailand. "Our local dinosaurs are like missing jigsaw pieces that help establish evolutionary connections," said Suravech.
Image: Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP
Reptile ride
The dinosaur discoveries have also brought economic benefits to the region, in the form of a dinosaur museum in Khon Kaen. The predominantly rural region has historically been one of the poorest in Thailand, and the discoveries are launched a burgeoning dinosaur tourism sector.
Image: Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP
Funding fossils
Despite the sensational finds and public interest, funding for paleontology in Thailand remains limited, and remote research expeditions are often expensive. "There are many fossils hidden here that are waiting for us to uncover," said Suravech Suteethorn. "We seek help from the Thai government, but it's very difficult."
Image: Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP
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How could dinosaurs cross an ocean?
During the time of the dinosaurs the continents were only just starting to drift apart. In recent decades scientists have begun to theorize that the proto-Atlantic Ocean still had ephemeral land bridges or episodic sea regressions or some other temporary means of crossing that occasionally enabled land-based dinosaurs to move vast distances between the separating continents.
Recent fossil finds, not least in Spain and Portugal near the Atlantic coast, have been further reinforcing this notion. This is part of a land bridge thought to have connected Iberia to what's now Canada.
The authors said the find "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" period, approximated 150 million years ago.
Another route linked North America with Scandinavia, and one much further south connected what's now Brazil to Cameroon.
