A remarkable discovery has been made in Italy, as a herd of 11 dinosaurs, along with the largest and most complete dinosaur skeleton ever found in the country, have been unearthed.

The fossils were found at the Villaggio del Pescatore, a former limestone quarry located near the northeastern port city of Trieste. These fossils belong to the species Tethyshadros insularis, which roamed the Earth approximately 80 million years ago and could reach lengths of up to five meters.

This find is particularly significant for paleontologists, as it marks the first time a complete group of dinosaurs has been discovered in Italy.

Italy is not typically renowned for its dinosaur discoveries, and although isolated dinosaur remains have been found in the country since the 1990s, this discovery is unique in its scale and completeness.

The research team, led by Federico Fanti, a professor at the University of Bologna, conducted a thorough investigation and published their findings in the ‘Scientific Reports’ journal.

Notably, the Villaggio del Pescatore earned recognition for its dinosaur-related discoveries in 1996, when paleontologists came across a dinosaur skeleton they named Antonio.

Initially believed to belong to a “dwarf species,” further analysis now indicates that Antonio was a young dinosaur and part of the same herd that met a collective fate.

This discovery holds great importance in the field of paleontology as it provides valuable insights into the region’s prehistoric past and challenges our previous understanding of dinosaur diversity and presence in Italy. It also adds a unique chapter to Italy’s contributions to the world of dinosaur science.