Primary school pupils the province of Castellón took part in a competition to name Villarreal CF’s dinosaur
The Protathlitis Cinctorrensis now has a nickname: Groguetsaurio. Through the Endavant Província programme, Villarreal CF has promoted this fantastic discovery and its dissemination, organising a competition with primary school students in the province of Castellón, who have had the opportunity to present three possible nicknames and carry out a research project on the dinosaur named in honour of the yellow club.
The awards ceremony was held this Tuesday in the press room of the Estadio de la Cerámica. Nuestra Señora de la Consolación School in Nules won the prize for the best research project and Virgen del Carmen School in Vila-real came up with the winning name. Around 50 pupils from classes of both schools enjoyed a visit to the Estadio de la Cerámica and received their corresponding awards.
The authorities of the Grup Guix from Vila-real, who discovered this dinosaur species together with the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón and the University of Valencia, the palaeontologist and director of the Museum of Natural Sciences of Valencia Begoña Poza Falset and the palaeontologist and director of Cinctorres-Dinomanía Andrés Santos Cubedo have also participated in this awards ceremony.
Protathlitis Cinctorrensis, the Villarreal CF dinosaur
Protathlitis Cinctorrensis is a new species of dinosaur that was discovered in 2023 in Cinctorres, a small village in Castellón where it lived about 127 million years ago. It is a carnivorous species 11 metres long and 3 metres high, and weighs around two tonnes.
The scientific name of this dinosaur refers to the Europa League title won in 2021 and the collaboration and involvement of the club with the province: Protathlitis means ‘champion’ in Greek in honour of the achievement in Gdansk and Cinctorrensis is due to the village where the fossils were found.
This discovery was published on 18th May 2023 in the prestigious British journal Scientific Reports, and the following day the dinosaur’s presentation ceremony was held at the El Ceramista Restaurant in the Estadio de la Cerámica.
A competition promoted by Endavant Provincia
The Endavant Provincia initiative, promoted by Villarreal CF through the Foundation, aims to promote tourism in the province of Castellón. The Yellow club, committed to its region, joins forces and collaborates to promote the economic and cultural activity of the province, one of the basic engines of the economy, promoting its gastronomy, products, events and most representative destinations.
Protathlitis Cinctorresis is a dinosaur in homage to Villarreal CF and reinforces the sense of belonging and identification of the entity with the province of Castellón. Protathlitis cinctorrensis is already part of the history, present and future of Villarreal CF.
