An investigation carried out by researchers from the Conjunto Paleontológico de Teruel-Dinópolis Foundation has resulted in the description of a new genus and a new species of ornithopod dinosaur, the oblitosaurus (forgotten lizard). has been baptized as Oblitosaurus bunnueli in honor of the Calanda film director, Luis Buñuel.
The details of the investigation have been made public this Tuesday in the latest issue of the prestigious scientific journal Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
He Oblitosaurus It is the largest ornithopod from the Jurassic of Europe, since its length could reach seven meters, and it inhabited the coastal ecosystems of the eastern peninsula during the Late Jurassic, approximately 150-145 million years ago.
Fossils of Oblitosaurus bunnueli (femur, tibia, fibula, calcaneus, talus, metatarsus, phalanges of the foot and hand, and a tooth) come from paleontological excavations carried out by the Dinópolis Foundation at the Barrihonda-El Humero site, located in Jurassic sediments Superior of the municipal term of Riodeva.
From this same site come the fossils of the largest sauropod dinosaur defined in Europe so far, Turiasaurus riodevensisand stegosaurus fossils Dacentrurus armedamong other vertebrates and invertebrates.