Discovery of Tiny Dinosaur Foskeia pelendonum Sheds Light on Evolutionary Gaps
A team of international researchers has identified a new species of tiny dinosaur, Foskeia pelendonum, from the Early Cretaceous period in Spain. This ornithopod, measuring just half a meter in length, was discovered in Vegagete, Burgos, and is notable for its highly derived skull and specialized dentition. The study, led by Paul-Emile Dieudonné from the National University of Río Negro, Argentina, places Foskeia near the base of the Rhabdodontidae lineage, contributing to the understanding of European herbivorous dinosaur evolution. The fossils, representing at least five individuals, were initially uncovered by Fidel Torcida Fernández-Baldor of the Dinosaur Museum of Salas de los Infantes. The genus name Foskeia is derived from Greek, meaning 'light,' reflecting the dinosaur's small size, while the species name pelendonum honors the Celtiberian tribe Pelendones. 
