Long before the beaches, golden cliffs and summers full of tourists, the Algarve was the scene of a discovery that today excites science: a new species of dinosaur identified in Portugal. This is not a common fossil nor a repeated find, but a hitherto unknown dinosaur, which lived in the south of Portuguese territory around 150 million yearsat the end of the Jurassic.
The animal belongs to the group of iguanodontianoslarge herbivorous dinosaurs that dominated vast regions of prehistoric Europe. They were robust, with a massive body, a long tail for balance and strong forelimbs, capable of alternating between locomotion on two or four legs. This versatility allowed them to move efficiently and reach different types of vegetation.
In those remote times, the Algarve was far from what we know today. The climate was hot and humid, the landscape marked by lush green plains, winding rivers and dense forestspopulated by giant ferns, primitive conifers and other plants that predate the appearance of flowers. It was an ideal environment for large herbivores, which fed on tough leaves, shoots and abundant vegetation.
What makes this dinosaur truly special is the fact that the fossils found show unique anatomical features. Detailed analysis of the bones revealed clear differences in relation to other known species, allowing researchers to conclude that we are dealing with a new species to science. This detail is decisive, because it demonstrates that the territory that is now Portugal had its own fauna, with lineages distinct from other European regions.
The discovery reinforces the importance of Portugal in the study of the evolution of dinosaurs. During the Jurassic, the Iberian Peninsula functioned as a contact zone between different continental masses, favoring migrations, but also the emergence of unique species. The Algarve dinosaur now identified is further proof that this territory was a true natural laboratory for evolution.
There is also a symbolic impact that is difficult to ignore. Thinking that, where cities, roads and beaches exist today, prehistoric giants walked for millions of years, helps us understand the depth of time and the richness of Portugal’s natural heritage. The history of Portugal does not just begin with castles, kings or caravels; it begins much earlier, written in rock and fossils.
This new dinosaur gives the Algarve an unexpected and fascinating past. A past in which Portugal was not only a land of navigators, but also land of dinosaurs.
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