Dinosaurs are magnificent creatures that lived and ruled the world millions of years ago. To explore the lost world of these creatures, paleontologists try to identify new species by examining fossil remains. And now let’s introduce you to Protathlitis cinctorrensis, a new spinosaurid species.
Spinosaurids were large, carnivorous dinosaurs that walked on two legs. Dinosaurs in this group are known to eat fish and live near water. However, it is not known for certain whether they can swim. Spinosaurids are thought to have originated in Europe and later spread to Africa and Asia.
How was Protathlitis cinctorrensis discovered?
Fossils of Protathlitis cinctorrensis were found in 2011 in the Arcillas de Morella Formation in eastern Spain. This formation belongs to the Early Cretaceous period (about 127-126 million years ago). Among the fossil fragments found were a right jawbone, a tooth, and five tail vertebrae. Based on these remains, researchers estimate that the dinosaur was 10-11 meters long.
By comparing them with other known spinosaurid specimens, the researchers concluded that the fossils were a new species as well as a new spinosaurid genus. Protathlitis cinctorrensis takes its name from a Greek word meaning “champion” and the town of Cinctorres, where the fossils were found. The naming of this breed also refers to the football club Villarreal CF, which won the Europa League in 2021.
The discovery of Protathlitis cinctorrensis is considered an important find after dental fossils, which were the first evidence of the existence of spinosaurids in Spain. The discovery also provides new information about the origin and diversification of spinosaurids. The research results were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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