Sensational Discovery in Istria: Seabed Hides a New Dinosaur Species!

An international team of paleontologists and geologists is conducting a unique underwater exploration off the coast of Istria, within the Datule–Barbariga paleontological reserve near Bale. Experts are carefully extracting fossilized dinosaur remains, estimated to be around 130 million years old, from depths ranging between 1.5 and six metres. This exceptional underwater site is unlike any other terrestrial fossil location, as the bones are embedded directly in the seabed rock, giving the project immense international scientific importance.

A Potential New Long-Necked Species

Prominent American paleontologist Matthew Lamanna described the site as exceptionally significant, confirming that the excavated remains could belong to an entirely new dinosaur species. According to expert Frano Vidaković, the creature was a large long-necked and long-tailed herbivore with pillar-like legs that fed on high tree foliage. So far, researchers have recovered parts of neck vertebrae, lumbar bones, and ribs, hoping further investigations will reveal more about its anatomy and classification.

Historical Roots and Istrian Tourism

Dinosaur bones were first discovered in this area back in 1993 by sheer chance when a local resident collecting date mussels noticed a bone embedded in the rock. This led to the identification of the Histriosaurus boscariollii and firmly placed Istria on the global paleontological tourism map. Such remarkable discoveries not only enrich the scientific community but also offer fantastic potential for educational tourism, attracting visitors eager to explore the prehistoric heritage of the Adriatic.