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Morocco uncovers Spicomellus afer: a dinosaur rewriting evolutionary history
A groundbreaking fossil discovery in Morocco has revealed the remains of Spicomellus afer, an extraordinary dinosaur that lived over 165 million years ago during the Middle Jurassic period near present-day Boulemane. This heavily armored herbivore is not only the oldest ankylosaur ever identified but also the first of its kind discovered in Africa, according to a study published in Nature.
A creature like no other
The unique anatomy of Spicomellus afer has stunned paleontologists. Unlike any other known vertebrate, this dinosaur had spikes fused directly to its ribs. Some of these spikes formed a collar around its neck, extending up to 87 centimeters, while others were blade-like plates positioned along its shoulders and massive projections above its hips.
"Neck spikes over a meter long, enormous hip spikes, and blade-like structures along its shoulders—there’s nothing comparable in any other animal," said Susannah C.R. Maidment of London’s Natural History Museum, who co-led the study with the University of Birmingham.
Researchers believe the complexity of this armor may have served purposes beyond defense, such as intimidating rivals, attracting mates, or establishing dominance, as later ankylosaurs evolved simpler protective features.
A tail weapon ahead of its time
Fossil evidence also indicates Spicomellus possessed a tail weapon, with certain vertebrae fused in a pattern previously seen only in ankylosaurs with tail clubs—dinosaurs that lived tens of millions of years later in the Cretaceous period. This discovery pushes back the evolution of tail weapons by at least 30 million years.
"Examining the Spicomellus fossils gave us chills. This discovery challenges long-held assumptions about ankylosaur evolution," said Richard Butler of the University of Birmingham.
Unlocking Morocco’s prehistoric secrets
Driss Ouarhache of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, who co-led the Moroccan research team, emphasized the significance of the find: "We have never encountered a dinosaur like this, and this region still holds many secrets."
The fossils were carefully prepared at the Department of Geology at Dhar El Mahraz Faculty of Sciences in Fez with support from the University of Birmingham. They now await further analysis and cataloging.
This discovery not only sheds light on the evolutionary history of ankylosaurs but also underscores Morocco’s importance in uncovering new prehistoric species.