Moroccan Dinosaurs: Strange Finds Filled with Nails
Spicomellus: The Remarkably Armored Dinosaur of Morocco
This text details the discovery and description of Spicomellus, a newly understood dinosaur from the Jurassic period found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Here’s a breakdown of the key details:
What is Spicomellus?
Type: An early member of the Ankylosaur group – dinosaurs resembling tanks, plant-eating, slow-moving, and quadrupedal.
Size: Approximately 4 meters (13 feet) long and weighing 1-2 tons.
Age: Jurassic Period.
Location: atlas Mountains near Boulemean, Morocco.
Unique Features & Armor:
Extensive Armor: Spicomellus possessed incredibly elaborate armor, unlike any other known dinosaur or animal. Rib Spikes: Long, sharp thorns extending from each rib – a feature not seen in other animals.
Neck Collar: A bone collar on the neck with plates and a particularly long thorn (approximately 87 cm / 2.85 feet, potentially longer when alive).
Pelvic Shield: Armor covering the pelvis with two large thorns protruding from the hips.
Tail Weapon: Evidence suggests a weapon at the tip of the tail, likely a club or thorn, similar to later Ankylosaurs, though the actual weapon wasn’t found.
Possible Functions of the Armor:
Defense: Protection against predatory dinosaurs.
Display: Attracting mates, establishing territory, or competing with other Spicomellus individuals. The exceptionally long neck thorn is considered potentially too elaborate for purely defensive purposes, suggesting a display function. Researchers compare it to features like deer antlers or peacock tails.
Discovery & Fossil Information:
Previously known only from a single rib fragment (described in 2021).
New fossils were discovered in 2022 and 2023, providing a much better understanding of the dinosaur.
The fossils are partial, with the head being a missing component.
Significance:
Spicomellus provides valuable insight into the early evolution of Ankylosaurs and demonstrates a level of armor complexity previously unknown in dinosaurs of this period. It challenges existing understanding of dinosaur defense and display mechanisms.