A European Diplodocus
Diplodocus may be one of the world's most famous dinosaurs, but it is only known from the Jurassic Morrison formation in the United States, or at least it was. Paleontologists in Spain have just found Europe's first diplodocus. The real question is: how did it get there?
Trevor Schulz
9/15/20261 min read
Publication Info:
Transcript:
Sergio SáNchez-Fenollosa, et al, Intercontinental evidence of the iconic genus Diplodocus Marsh, 1878 (Dinosauria, Sauropoda), Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (2026). DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2026.2718423
Diplodocus may be one of the world's most famous dinosaurs, but it is only known from the Jurassic Morrison formation in the United States, or at least it was. Paleontologists in Spain have just found Europe's first diplodocus. The real question is: how did it get there?
Episode 343
Notes:
How did Diplodocus get to Spain? And I'm serious, this is a real question right now. And I know some of you are going to say Pangaea, and no, by the time Diplodocus was around 150 million years ago, Pangaea had already pretty much broken up. And yeah, little easier to get there than it would be today on foot, but still not really, and especially not for an almost 100 ft animal. I mean, Diplodocus is world famous cuz it's one of the first truly giant dinosaurs that was ever discovered, and it's still one of the largest animals that ever lived on our planet, reaching 80 85 ft long. And I know I don't have to introduce you to Diplodocus, you already know what it is, but there are two to three species, let's say two and a half. Diplodocus carnegiei, D. hallorum, and sort of Diplodocus longus. It is still officially the type species, I believe, even though it's a nomen dubium or a dubious name. So so that one may or may not stick around. Anyway, as I was saying, the entire Diplodocus genus is only known from the Morrison Formation in the western US. But one was just uncovered in Spain. And to be clear, there are European diplodocids, or relatives of Diplodocus, within Diplodocidae. Animals like Supersaurus and possibly Dinheirosaurus. This isn't one of them. According to paleontologists, this amazingly well-preserved specimen is a true Diplodocus, within the same genus as the American species. And at 82 ft long, it's also about the same size. Assuming this all turns out to be true, it could be changing everything paleontologists know about the actual range of giant Jurassic dinosaurs. As usual, if you want more information, here's the source.