Potentially most complete spinosaurid from Europe unearthed in Spain

[Concavenator]

^ What the title says. It hasn't been described yet, so it's unclear whether it's a new taxon or if the specimen belongs to one of the 4 spinosaurid genera found in the Iberian peninsula (Baryonyx, Vallibonavenatrix, Iberospinus and Camarillasaurus). And no, the title is no clickbait, the discoverers claim it might prove to be more complete than Baryonyx. They give it an estimated length of 7 - 8 m. Apparently the specimen hasn't been fully recovered yet, so there are more fossil remains left. The discoverers claim that they will clarify its taxonomic status during the following months, and that in case it turns out to be a new taxon, the name will reference La Rioja (the provice where it was found).

Some links (they're in Spanish but a translator will do):

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqLzPnbrMX_/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqL-WsILhoC/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://www.larioja.com/la-rioja/hallan-igea-dinosaurio-espinosaurido-completo-peninsula-iberica-20230324191412-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.es%2F

https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20230324/descubren-rioja-restos-oseos-dinosaurio-carnivoro-gran-tamano/2433058.shtml

If it indeed surpasses Baryonyx in completeness, that would make it the most complete spinosaurid after Suchomimus, and along with it and Baryonyx, the only members of the family we would have a good grasp of what they looked like. For that reason, it would be more interesting from a taxonomic perspective if it belonged to the spinosaurine subfamily, rather than the baryonichine, in order to improve our knowledge on spinosaurids as a family. The only spinosaurine known from the Iberian peninsula (so far) is Vallibonavenatrix, baryonichines seem to be more common in Europe so it might be another one. In any case, it's good news that a new spinosaurid specimen discovered is not fragmentary as hell. We could really use a fairly complete megaraptorid too. Hopefully some day!

[Faelrin]

From the second link put into google translate sums up that this is what they have for the material:

The remains found of this great dinosaur, and which are deposited in the Igea Paleontological Center, are cranial bones, including part of a dentary that also preserves several alveoli and sections of the teeth, as well as isolated teeth.

Elements of the axial skeleton have been found, such as  cervical, dorsal and caudal vertebrae , as well as ribs; a virtually complete forelimb, including elements of the arm, forearm, and hand, with several distal phalanges, or claws.




In addition, bones of the hind limb (leg), such as the femur, tibia, metatarsals and phalanges , including claws and bones of the shoulder and pelvic (hip) girdles, are part of the find  .

That's pretty good to see.

[Halichoeres]

It'll be interesting to see what the neural spines look like.