| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1m |
| Length | 4m |
| Weight | 500 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | Spain |
Proa was a distinctive ornithopod dinosaur that lived approximately 113 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period in what is now Spain. This medium-sized herbivore represents one of the earlier examples of advanced ornithopod evolution in Europe, providing valuable insights into how these successful plant-eating dinosaurs spread across different continents.
Measuring about 4 metres in length and standing roughly 1 metre tall at the hip, Proa was built for efficient plant processing. Like other ornithopods, it possessed a sophisticated dental system with multiple rows of grinding teeth that could effectively break down tough prehistoric vegetation. Its jaw structure suggests it was well-adapted to processing the ferns, cycads, and early flowering plants that dominated Early Cretaceous landscapes.
What makes Proa particularly interesting to palaeontologists is its early appearance in the ornithopod family tree. Living during a time when these dinosaurs were rapidly diversifying, Proa helps scientists understand how ornithopods developed their characteristic features. The Spanish fossil evidence suggests that Europe played a more significant role in ornithopod evolution than previously thought.
The discovery of Proa has enhanced our understanding of Early Cretaceous ecosystems in Europe, showing that diverse communities of herbivorous dinosaurs thrived in the region's warm, humid climate alongside various predatory dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.
Proa possessed the characteristic ornithopod features of a robust build with strong hind limbs and a long tail for balance. Its skull was relatively small compared to its body, with a distinctive beak-like front end adapted for cropping vegetation.
Proa likely moved in small herds across the Early Cretaceous Spanish landscape, foraging for low-growing plants and shrubs. As an ornithopod, it probably spent much of its time on all fours while feeding but could rear up on its hind legs when necessary.
Proa was first described by José Ignacio Canudo in 2010. The original fossils were discovered at Teruel Province, Spain.
