Discovered humped dinosaurs like camels in Spain

At the quarry at Mas de la Parreta Quarry, Morella, Spain, archaeologists discovered fossils of a strange dinosaur with a hump on its back like a camel.

Scientists have discovered an unprecedented dinosaur that once reigned on Earth 125 million years ago, according to news reports. They have a hump like a sail on their back that can be used to store fat like a camel's hump. Paleontologists have discovered part of the dinosaur fossil skeleton at the quarry at Mas de la Parreta Quarry, Morella, Spain.

They named this species Morelladon beltrani , the name derived from the Spanish region, where they were found, "beltrani" from Victor Beltran, the man who excavated the fossil. They are plant-eating dinosaurs , about 6 meters long and 2.5 meters high, and are thought to have a kinship with the Iguanodon dinosaurs .

Picture 1 of Discovered humped dinosaurs like camels in Spain
Dinosaur fossils found in Spain.

However, unlike their relatives, the Morelladon has a prickly spine that grows back up about 60cm high like a hump. Dr. Fernando Escaso, a biologist at the National University of Distance Education in Madrid, Spain, said: "We know that Morella dinosaurs are similar to other species in European regions. However, this finding shows the diversity of the number of dinosaurs in southern Europe about 125 million years ago. "

Morelladon beltrani is thought to live at about the same time as other large herbivores such as guanodon bernissartensis and Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis. The discovered fossils include 14 teeth, 6 vertebrae, many dorsal spines and some ribs along with several other bone fragments.

Picture 2 of Discovered humped dinosaurs like camels in Spain
This species of dinosaur has a "hump" on its back like a camel.

Experts believe that the spines protruding from the vertebrae of the spine can function as the structure of a sail. This helps them regulate their body temperature by releasing excess heat out of the environment like an elephant's ears.

It can also be a "store" of fat used while food supplies are scarce. Dr. Escaso said that maybe a "hump" is used to attract mates.