Scientists have discovered a bizarre armoured dinosaur which had metre-long spikes sticking out from its neck. The species, called Spicomellus afer, lived 165 million years ago, and is the oldest example of a group of armoured dinosaurs called ankylosaurs. The elaborateness and spikiness of the animal found in Morocco has come as a shock to experts, who now have to rethink how these armoured dinosaurs evolved. Prof Richard Butler, from the University of Birmingham who co-led the research, told BBC News that it was the punk rocker of its time.
Punk rock is a sub-culture and music style that first emerged in the 1970s, often characterized by spiky hair and accessories. It is one of the strangest dinosaurs ever discovered, said Prof Butler. His project co-leader, Prof Susannah Maidment of the Natural History Museum, remarked on the surprising fusion of spikes directly onto the bone, a feature unseen in any other animal, living or extinct.
The dinosaur is covered in curious spikes and protrusions, even bearing a bony collar around its neck and a weapon-like tail. The discovery raises questions about the evolutionary path of ankylosaurs, who survived into the Cretaceous period, around 145 to 66 million years ago, thought initially to have started with simple armoured plates. But the findings showcase a creature bursting with spikes, defying expectations.
The researchers suggest these structures may have been used for display, evolving over time to deter predators like T. Rex. Estimations suggest this dinosaur would have been approximately four metres long and one metre high, weighing roughly two tonnes. Discovered by a local farmer in Morocco, this find represents the first ankylosaur unearthed on the continent, prompting excitement within the scientific community about future discoveries in the region.
Punk rock is a sub-culture and music style that first emerged in the 1970s, often characterized by spiky hair and accessories. It is one of the strangest dinosaurs ever discovered, said Prof Butler. His project co-leader, Prof Susannah Maidment of the Natural History Museum, remarked on the surprising fusion of spikes directly onto the bone, a feature unseen in any other animal, living or extinct.
The dinosaur is covered in curious spikes and protrusions, even bearing a bony collar around its neck and a weapon-like tail. The discovery raises questions about the evolutionary path of ankylosaurs, who survived into the Cretaceous period, around 145 to 66 million years ago, thought initially to have started with simple armoured plates. But the findings showcase a creature bursting with spikes, defying expectations.
The researchers suggest these structures may have been used for display, evolving over time to deter predators like T. Rex. Estimations suggest this dinosaur would have been approximately four metres long and one metre high, weighing roughly two tonnes. Discovered by a local farmer in Morocco, this find represents the first ankylosaur unearthed on the continent, prompting excitement within the scientific community about future discoveries in the region.
