Unusual Dinosaur Sporting Spiked Armor Discovered by Scientists
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have shed light on one of the strangest dinosaurs ever found – Spicomellus. This herbivorous dinosaur, which roamed the earth 165 million years ago, is now known to be the world's oldest known ankylosaur.
The journey to understanding Spicomellus began in Morocco in 2019, where a single rib bone was found. This discovery served as the foundation for the initial image of Spicomellus. Since then, newly discovered remains have provided scientists with a clearer picture of this unusual dinosaur.
The most striking feature of Spicomellus is its armour. Covered in bony spikes fused onto all of its ribs, this dinosaur also had long, blade-like spikes, metre-long neck spikes, and huge upwards-projecting spikes over its hips. Additionally, it had plates down its shoulders and two long spikes making up pieces of its armour.
No animal before has been seen with a similar configuration of plates and spikes as Spicomellus. This bony spike configuration is unique to Spicomellus and has never been seen before in any other vertebrate species, living or extinct.
Initially, the armour of Spicomellus was thought to have evolved for defensive purposes. However, recent research suggests that it may have been used later to attract mates and show off to rivals.
Richard Butler, a professor at the University of Birmingham and one of the project co-leads, called the fossils of Spicomellus an "incredibly significant discovery". The research on Spicomellus was published on Wednesday, offering the world a closer look at this enigmatic dinosaur.
As we continue to uncover more about Spicomellus, it's clear that this dinosaur is one of the strangest ever discovered. Its unique armour and defensive features make it a fascinating subject for further study.
