Vallibonavenatrix cani is the only known species of the extinct genus Vallibonavenatrix, a spinosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in the early Cretaceous period, approximately 130 to 125 million years ago, during the Barremian, in what is now Europe. Its remains have been found in the Arcillas de Morella Formation, in the province of Castellón, Spain, coexisting with other dinosaurs such as Iguanodon bernissartensis, Morelladon beltrani, an indeterminate sauropod and an indeterminate baryonychinid.
This dinosaur was a bipedal predator of moderate size, with distinctive features on its dorsal vertebrae. The neural spines were moderately tall and one spine in particular expanded in a trapezoidal, fan-like shape, suggesting the possible presence of a dorsal sail similar to that of the spinosaurid Ichthyovenator. The sacrum of Vallibonavenatrix had deep pleurocoelous fossae and pneumatic openings, while the ilium of the pelvis was also highly pneumatic with large internal chambers.
The discovery of Vallibonavenatrix cani is due to the efforts of amateur fossil collector Juan Cano Forner, who in the 1980s and 1990s recovered bones from various locations in the Els Ports Natural Park. The fossils were part of a private collection officially recognized in 1994. In 2007, paleontologists published a tentative description of the pelvis of a theropod from Forner's collection, and in 2019, Elisabete Malafaia and her colleagues formally described the new genus and species. Vallibonavenatrix cani, named in honor of the town of Vallibona and the discoverer of the fossil.
Vallibonavenatrix cani is the most complete spinosaurid recovered from the Iberian Peninsula, with remains including cervical, dorsal and caudal vertebrae, a nearly complete sacrum, rib fragments, chevrons, and parts of the ilium and ischium. Initially classified within the subfamily Spinosaurinae due to its similarities to Spinosaurus and Irritator, subsequent studies have debated its phylogenetic position. Some analyzes suggest that it could be a more basal spinosaurid or even a member of Baryonychinae, highlighting the instability in its classification.
This dinosaur inhabited a coastal environment with bodies of water, ideal for a semi-aquatic predator. Its morphology suggests adaptations for capturing aquatic prey, with a long, narrow skull and conical, non-serrated teeth, similar to other spinosaurids.
Approximate measurements of the Vallibonavenatrix:
This dinosaur was a bipedal predator of moderate size, with distinctive features on its dorsal vertebrae. The neural spines were moderately tall and one spine in particular expanded in a trapezoidal, fan-like shape, suggesting the possible presence of a dorsal sail similar to that of the spinosaurid Ichthyovenator. The sacrum of Vallibonavenatrix had deep pleurocoelous fossae and pneumatic openings, while the ilium of the pelvis was also highly pneumatic with large internal chambers.
The discovery of Vallibonavenatrix cani is due to the efforts of amateur fossil collector Juan Cano Forner, who in the 1980s and 1990s recovered bones from various locations in the Els Ports Natural Park. The fossils were part of a private collection officially recognized in 1994. In 2007, paleontologists published a tentative description of the pelvis of a theropod from Forner's collection, and in 2019, Elisabete Malafaia and her colleagues formally described the new genus and species. Vallibonavenatrix cani, named in honor of the town of Vallibona and the discoverer of the fossil.
Vallibonavenatrix cani is the most complete spinosaurid recovered from the Iberian Peninsula, with remains including cervical, dorsal and caudal vertebrae, a nearly complete sacrum, rib fragments, chevrons, and parts of the ilium and ischium. Initially classified within the subfamily Spinosaurinae due to its similarities to Spinosaurus and Irritator, subsequent studies have debated its phylogenetic position. Some analyzes suggest that it could be a more basal spinosaurid or even a member of Baryonychinae, highlighting the instability in its classification.
This dinosaur inhabited a coastal environment with bodies of water, ideal for a semi-aquatic predator. Its morphology suggests adaptations for capturing aquatic prey, with a long, narrow skull and conical, non-serrated teeth, similar to other spinosaurids.
Approximate measurements of the Vallibonavenatrix:
- Scale 1:35 Assembly kit
- Length 225mm
- Height 76mm
- Width 49mm
- Snout-tail length 258mm
- 1:20 scale Assembly kit
- Length 394mm
- Height 133mm
- Width 85mm
- Snout-tail length 450 mm
