The new species, found in Cinctorres, will be dedicated to the club for its involvement with the province of Castellón
A new species of dinosaur has been found in Cinctorres, Castellón. Researchers from the ‘Grup Guix’ from Vila-real, the Jaume I University of Castelló and the University of Valencia have found a new kind of dinosaur that lived in the province of Castellón around 127 million years ago. This has recently been confirmed by the prestigious British journal Scientific Reports, in relation to the discovery of the fossils of a new genus and species of spinosaurid dinosaur.
The holotype has been identified based on an almost complete right maxilla, five caudal vertebrae and one tooth. It is an adult specimen about 10 metres long by 3 metres high, carnivorous, with an elongated nose with numerous conical teeth, that moved on its two hind legs and used its hands to capture prey. The bones were found at the ANA site in Cinctorres, being the third dinosaur species identified in the Formación Arcillas in Morella, belonging to the Early Cretaceous, and the fourth in the province of Castellón.
When it came to naming the new dinosaur, the research team wanted to pay tribute to Villarreal CF for its centenary, for the Europa League title and for its collaboration and involvement with the province. That is why they have decided to dedicate the name of the genus in their honour: ‘Protathlitis cinctorrensis‘. Protathilitis, which means ‘champion’ in Greek as a reference to the feat achieved in Gdansk; and cinctorrensis for the location where the fossils were found.
Villarreal CF would like to show its deepest and most profound gratitude for such an honour to the ‘Grup Guix’ from Vila-real, the Jaume I University of Castelló and the University of Valencia and is proud to receive this honour, which reinforces the club’s sense of belonging and identification with the province of Castellón. ‘Protathlitis cinctorrensis‘ is now part of Villarreal CF’s history, present and future.
Presentation of the dinosaur at El Ceramista
The official presentation of the new dinosaur species will take place tomorrow at 11.30 am at the El Ceramista Restaurant at the Estadio de la Cerámica. It will be attended by the president of the club, Fernando Roig; the mayoress of Cinctorres, Mireia Mestre; and the four geologists who led the research: Andrés Santos-Cubedo and Sergi Meseguer from the Universitat Jaume I of Castelló, Carlos de Santisteban from the Universitat de València and Begoña Poza from the ‘Grup Guix’ from Vila-real.
Competition in the schools of the province to give it a nickname
A competition will be held among the province’s primary schools that wish to take part in order for them to produce a work related to the dinosaurs that inhabited the province and, in addition, to propose three possible nicknames for the dinosaur. The club will finally choose a winning nickname and award a prize to the corresponding school.
The new species is dedicated to Villarreal CF
1) Protathlitis cinctorrensis new genus and species of spinosaurid dinosaur.
2) Protathlitis cinctorrensis is the third dinosaur species identified in the Morella Clay Formation (Early Cretaceous).
3) Protathlitis cinctorrensis is a key dinosaur for understanding the origin and evolution of spinosaurids in Europe.
4) According to the results of the study, Protathlitis cinctorrensis is a basal baryonychine, which is closely related to the dinosaur Baryonyx walkeri.
5) The Cinctorres spinosaurids inhabited areas close to coastal zones..
Facts
Dinosauria, theropods, tetanurids, spinosaurids, barionychines, Protathlitis cinctorrensis gen. et sp. nov.
Meaning of the name: Protathlitís (from the Greek, Πρωταθλητής)-“champion”, in reference to the UEFA Europa League title won by Villarreal C.F. in 2021 and as a tribute to the club’s centenary celebrated in 2023. Cinctorrensis species dedicated to Cinctorres and its inhabitants, where the dinosaur fossils were found.
Classification: baryonychid spinosaurid.
Description: Santos-Cubedo, fro Santisteban, Poza & Meseguer, 2023.
Found in: Cinctorres, Castellón, Spain.
Age: Lower Cretaceous (Late Barremian), between 126m and 127m years ago.
Dimensions: between 10 and 11 metres in length.
Weight: about 2 tonnes.
Diet: carnivore.
