Best-Preserved Stegosaur Skull in Europe Described, Defining New Dinosaur Group
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Paleontologists have described the best-preserved stegosaur skull ever found in Europe, a fossil from Spain dating to about 150 million years ago. The discovery has led researchers to formally define a new group of dinosaurs, Neostegosauria, which includes medium and large stegosaur species that lived across multiple continents. The finding coincides with the 150th anniversary of the first description of this dinosaur species, Dacentrurus armatus.
Facts First
- A stegosaur skull discovered in Spain is the best-preserved of its kind ever found in Europe.
- The fossil belongs to Dacentrurus armatus, a plated, plant-eating dinosaur that lived about 150 million years ago.
- Researchers have defined a new dinosaur group, Neostegosauria, which includes species from Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia.
- The study was published in 2025, marking 150 years since the species was first described.
- The excavation and research were supported by multiple government bodies in Aragon and Spain.
What Happened
Paleontologists published a study describing a stegosaur skull fossil excavated in Riodeva, Spain. The fossil, identified as belonging to Dacentrurus armatus, dates to approximately 150 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period. Based on this and other specimens, the researchers formally defined a new evolutionary group called Neostegosauria, which includes medium and large stegosaur species that lived across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia from the Middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous.
Why this Matters to You
This discovery refines the scientific understanding of dinosaur evolution and distribution, which may lead to more accurate depictions in museums, documentaries, and educational materials you encounter. The find highlights how continued exploration can yield extraordinary fossils that reshape knowledge of prehistoric life.
What's Next
The Riodeva site contains additional fossil elements from the same adult specimen and from juvenile individuals, which may provide further insights into the growth and biology of these dinosaurs. The formal definition of the Neostegosauria group provides a new framework that other paleontologists are likely to use and test as they analyze stegosaur fossils from around the world.