New Dinosaur Discovery in Spain Rewrites Ornithopod Evolution
Fossils of a newly discovered small dinosaur in Spain are believed to provide significant new insights into the evolution of ornithopods.
Representing at least five individual dinosaurs, the fossils were uncovered by Fidel Torcida Fernandez-Baldor from the Dinosaur Museum of Salas de los Infantes in northern Spain. The museum specializes in Cretaceous-era fossils, a period crucial for dinosaur evolution.
Fernandez-Baldor highlighted the remarkable nature of the find, stating:
"The bones were exceptional due to their minute size and that the study of this animal alters existing ideas on ornithopod dinosaur evolution."
Ornithopods are a major group of plant-eating dinosaurs, well-known for their bipedal stance. The Iguanodon, which could reach nine meters in length, is a prominent example of an ornithopod species.
Introducing Foskeia pelendonum: A Tiny Game Changer
The new dinosaur, named "Foskeia pelendonum," measured just over half a meter (under 20 inches) in length. Its name is derived from Greek, meaning "light foraging," a nod to its diminutive size and presumed feeding habits.
Penelope Cruzado-Caballero from Universidad de La Laguna in Spain emphasized the unique characteristics of this discovery. She noted that Foskeia is fundamentally different from a "mini Iguanodon" and that its anatomy effectively "rewrites evolutionary trees."
Complexity in Miniaturization
Paleontologists have expressed particular interest in the intricate design of Foskeia's small skull. Marcos Becerra from Universidad Nacional de Cordoba indicated that miniaturization in this case did not result in evolutionary simplicity. He described the skull as "weird and hyper-derived," suggesting a complex evolutionary path.
The discovery also addresses significant gaps in the paleontological record. Thierry Tortosa of the Sainte Victoire Natural Reserve stated that the dinosaur "helps fill a '70-million-year gap'" in our understanding of dinosaur evolution.
Paul-Emile Dieudonne, from Argentina's National University of Rio Negro, who led the research, underscored Foskeia's "extreme smallness" and its highly derived cranium, which exhibits unexpected anatomical innovations. He suggested that these fossils offer compelling evidence of evolution's radical experimentation across both small and large body sizes.