Dr. Filippo Maria Rotatori (Freie Universität Berlin)

Western Europe as a Crucible: Diversity and macroevolution of iguanodontian dinosaurs in the Jurassic and Cretaceous

Abstract: Iguanodontian dinosaurs are among the earliest discovered and later became one of the most successful herbivorous groups, yet their early evolution remains poorly understood. In this talk, I highlight Western Europe as a key region for their diversification. By re-examining Late Jurassic material from across the region, including the Lourinhã Formation (Portugal), I reveal previously overlooked diversity, including new species, effectively expanding the known record. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that iguanodontians diversified earlier than previously thought, underscoring Western Europe as a crucial evolutionary centre shaping their Jurassic origins and Cretaceous success.

Vita: My research explores the diversity, systematics, and macroevolution of ornithopod dinosaurs worldwide during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. I completed my PhD at NOVA University of Lisbon, where I studied iguanodontian evolution and palaeobiogeography. Currently, my projects focus on evolutionary patterns in Late Jurassic iguanodontians from the United States Morrison Formation, combining comparative anatomy, phylogenetics, and macroevolutionary analyses.

Invited by: Stefanie Kaboth-Bahr and Emanuel Tschopp