Unveiling the ‘Punk Rocker’ Dinosaur: Newly Discovered Fossils Reveal Spiky Armor and More!

Researchers have unveiled a dinosaur known as Spicomellus, which might just be one of the most unusual creatures ever discovered. This ancient dinosaur, dating back 165 million years, had long bony spikes and a unique tail weapon. A study published in the journal Nature details this fascinating finding.

Scientists initially pieced together an image of Spicomellus from a single rib bone discovered in Morocco back in 2019. Recent discoveries have provided a more complete picture. The fossils reveal that spikes were actually fused to its ribs—something unprecedented in both modern and extinct species.

Richard Butler, a paleontologist at the University of Birmingham, likened Spicomellus to a “punk rocker” of its era, highlighting its striking appearance. He called this find “incredibly significant,” pointing out that it challenges our understanding of ankylosaurs, a group known for their tough, armored bodies.

Co-researcher Susannah Maidment from the Natural History Museum in London expressed surprise at the direct fusion of spikes to the bones. She noted that Spicomellus was covered in spikes and protrusions, including a bony collar around its neck and a strange weapon at the end of its tail. This makes it stand out even among other armored dinosaurs.

This discovery raises questions about how ankylosaurs evolved. Traditionally, it was believed that these dinosaurs began with simpler armor that evolved over time as they faced larger predators like T. Rex. Instead, Spicomellus shows that complex armor like its own existed much earlier than previously thought. Butler remarked, “If you had asked me what I would have expected the oldest known ankylosaur to look like, I would have said something with quite simple armor. Instead, we have an animal bristling with spikes like a hedgehog.”

Such discoveries shed light on how dinosaurs adapted over millions of years. This new information contributes to our broader understanding of prehistoric life and challenges previous assumptions, making Spicomellus a remarkable addition to the history of dinosaurs.

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Morocco, Archaeologist, Dinosaur