Protathlitis cinctorrensis is a new bipedal dinosaur species discovered in Spain. Its name means "champion from Cinctorres" and it lived approximately 127-126 million years ago. This dinosaur belongs to the family Spinosauridae, a group that includes Spinosaurus. Protathlitis cinctorrensis hunted on land and rarely in water unlike many of its relatives.
Currently, Protathlitis cinctorrensis is known from a tooth, five vertebrae and an upper right jawbone. This dinosaur was closely related to Baryonyx, a dinosaur discovered in England. Theories suggest that Protathlitis cinctorrensis was part of a bipedal group, which is more common in Europe while Spinosaurus was part of another group based in Africa.
In the same region, fossils of crocodiles, sharks and other fish also have been dug up, suggesting it lived in a habitat that was salty.
This discovery sheds light on a family of successful animals that hunted on land and also in water.
Comments
Post a Comment