Findings provide new insights into dinosaur evolution
Paleontologists have uncovered in Morocco the remains of a dinosaur with an extraordinary body structure. The species, named Spicomellus, lived more than 165 million years ago and displayed a distinctive combination of spikes and plates, making it unique among known ankylosaurs.
The fossils were found in the Boulemane region and expand the knowledge of this dinosaur, which was first identified in 2021 from a single rib bone. New analysis shows that this herbivore, comparable in size to a small car, possessed far more elaborate armor than previously believed.
Long spikes and fused armor
Researchers discovered that Spicomellus had neck spikes nearly three feet long, large upward-projecting spikes over its hips, and shoulder plates. One of the most unusual features was the presence of fused ribs with protruding spikes, a trait never observed in any other vertebrate, living or extinct.
Defensive and display functions
The dinosaur’s complex bone structure may have served multiple purposes: deterring predators, intimidating rivals, and attracting mates. This indicates that the armor of early ankylosaurs was not solely functional but could also have played a role in social and reproductive behavior.
Implications for ankylosaur evolution
The fossil evidence also revealed fused vertebrae forming a structure in the tail, suggesting the presence of a club-like weapon. This challenges the previous belief that such features only appeared much later during the Cretaceous period.
The discovery of Spicomellus highlights the scientific value of African fossil sites and provides new perspectives on the early evolution of armored dinosaurs. It demonstrates that ankylosaurs were more diverse and complex than once assumed, reshaping the understanding of their evolutionary history.
