Laño


Laño is a hamlet and concejo in Condado de Treviño within the Treviño enclave; which is administratively part of the Spanish province of Burgos, but which is completely surrounded by the territory of the Basque country province of Álava. It is best known for the fossils of extinct vertebrates dating from around 70 million years before present which have been found there.
Las Gobas, a site of ancient artificial caves from the 7th to the 13th century CE, is located just north of the village.

Palaeontology

The Paleontology Unit of the University of the Basque Country and other scientists have studied the fossil record at Laño. The fossils are from the late Cretaceous. It has been inferred that there was then a braided riverbed at the site, that the sea was nearby, and that the climate was tropical or sub-tropical.
Taxa identified at Laño include:Arcovenator sp., a species of abelisaurid dinosaurAcynodon iberoccitanus, a species of crocodilian in genus AcynodonDortoka vasconica, a species of turtle in genus Dortoka in family Dortokidae in sub-order PleurodiraGargantuavis, a genus of birdHerensugea caristiorum, a species of snake in genus Herensugea in family MadtsoiidaeLainodon orueetxebarriai, a species of placental mammal in genus Lainodon in family ZhelestidaeLirainosaurus astibiae, a species of sauropod dinosaur in genus LirainosaurusMenarana laurasiae, a species of snake in genus MenaranaMusturzabalsuchus buffetauti, a species of crocodilian in genus MusturzabalsuchusPolysternon atlanticum, a species of turtle in genus PolysternonSolemys vermiculata, a species of turtle in genus Solemys in family HelochelydridaeRhabdodon, a genus of ornithopodStruthiosaurus, a genus of ankylosaurTaveirosaurus, a genus of ornithischian dinosaurTarascosaurus a genus of abelisaurid dinosaur