Paleontologist Eric Isasmendi from the University of the Basque Country and his colleagues have discovered a new genus and species of spinosaurid dinosaurs. Riojavenatrix lacustris. Spinosaurs (Spinosauridae) are a family of large theropod dinosaurs known since the mid-Cretaceous period.

These dinosaurs are characterized by elongated skulls with conical teeth resembling the skulls of crocodiles and powerful limbs with a massive thumb claw. They grew to enormous sizes and at least one species Spinosaurus aegyptiacusgrew the same or larger Tyrannosaurus rex.

In many spinosaur species, the neural spines of their vertebrae were significantly elongated, forming a sail on the dinosaur’s back. Spinosaurids are thought to be fish-eaters based on their spiny teeth and the features of their skulls and jaws. Its fossils have been found all over the world, from Africa to Europe, from South America to Asia.

The newly identified spinosaurid lived in what is now Spain during the Early Cretaceous period, about 120 million years ago. A species with a scientific name Riojavenatrix lacustrisIt was 7–8 m (23–26 ft) long and weighed 1.5 tonnes.

“Riojavenatrix lacustris “It is one of the most recent Iberian and European spinosaurid species,” said Isasmendi et al. “It preserves a triangular pubic shoe like that of megalosaurids and a medial femoral condyle that exhibits a transitional phase between the anteroposteriorly oriented long axis of non-spinosaurid theropods and the posteromedially oriented long axis of spinosaurids.”

fossilized bones Riojavenatrix lacustris It was collected in the Enciso Group of the Cameros Basin in La Rioja, Spain.

“Moreover Riojavenatrix lacustrisPaleontologists report that five spinosaurids have been identified so far from the Lower Cretaceous period of the Iberian Peninsula. “Other Iberian spinosaurids – Camarillasaurus from Aragon Vallibonavenatrix And protathlon from Valencia and iberospinus from Portugal”.

“The fossil record shows that the Iberian Peninsula was home to a large and diverse group of these carnivorous dinosaurs.” Paleontologist Dr. from the Egidio Ferulio Museum of Paleontology and Ludwig Maximilian University. “Many discoveries in this iconic group raise many new questions about the ecology of these animals,” said Elena Cuesta.

“How did these species coexist with each other?” “Questions like these prompt us to revisit more detailed future studies of spinosaurids, which are sure to yield important results.” The findings were published in a journal Linnean’s Journal of Zoology Society.