What is the story about?
What's Happening?
A team of researchers has unearthed the remains of a dinosaur named Spicomellus in Morocco, revealing its unique spiked body armor. The dinosaur, which lived over 165 million years ago, was a four-legged herbivore about the size of a small car. The discovery includes three-foot-long neck spikes and a tail weapon, indicating a more elaborate armor than previously thought. The research, published in the journal Nature, suggests that the dinosaur's complex bone structure was used to attract mates and deter rivals. This finding challenges previous assumptions about ankylosaurs and their evolution, highlighting the significance of Africa's dinosaurs.
Why It's Important?
The discovery of Spicomellus provides new insights into the evolution of ankylosaurs, a group of armored dinosaurs. The elaborate armor of Spicomellus, including fused spikes and a club-like tail weapon, suggests a shift in the evolutionary priorities of these dinosaurs, emphasizing form as much as function. This challenges previous beliefs about the timeline of ankylosaur evolution and highlights the importance of African dinosaur fossils in understanding prehistoric life. The research underscores the need for continued exploration and study of dinosaur remains in Africa to uncover more about their diversity and evolutionary history.
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