'Punk Rock' Dinosaur with Metre-Long Spikes Discovered

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, making it the oldest known example of a group of armoured dinosaurs known as ankylosaurs. This spiky discovery in Morocco has startled experts, who must now rethink how these armoured creatures evolved.

Prof Richard Butler, from the University of Birmingham, who co-led the research, described the dinosaur as the punk rocker of its time due to its unusual appearance. It is one of the strangest dinosaurs ever discovered, he mentioned.

Professor Butler's counterpart, Prof Susannah Maidment from the Natural History Museum, noted that the spikes were fused directly to the bone—a characteristic not found in any other known animal. The dinosaur is covered in irregular spikes and features a bony collar around its neck, as well as potential weaponry on its tail.

This unusual find suggests ankylosaurs may have started off with elaborate armours that later evolved into simpler forms for functional purposes, particularly in response to evolving predatory threats during the Cretaceous period.

The skeletal remains indicate that this dinosaur likely measured four meters in length, stood about one meter high, and weighed around two tonnes.

The discovery, made by a local farmer in Boulemane, Morocco, is significant as it is the first ankylosaur ever found on the African continent. Prof Butler shared his excitement over the find, calling it a career highlight. It was a jaw-dropping, spine-tingling moment, he recalled enthusiastically.

Prof Driss Ouarhache, who led the Moroccan research team, emphasized the finding's importance in propelling Moroccan paleontological studies. He added, We've never seen dinosaurs like this before, and there's still a lot more this region has to offer. The research has been published in the journal Nature.