Armored Dinosaur Unearthed in Morocco Lived 165 Million Years Ago

Scientists have uncovered the fossilized remains of a bizarre armored dinosaur that roamed Morocco 165 million years ago. The discovery was made in the Atlas Mountains near the town of Boulemane.

Named Spicomellus, the creature is the oldest known member of the ankylosaur group, according to international media reports.

The herbivore measured around four meters in length and weighed between one and two tons. 

Walking on all fours, it was slow-moving but equipped with extraordinary natural armor. Its body was lined with sharp spikes, some reaching up to a meter long, while its neck was encircled by bony protrusions resembling golf clubs.

Professor Richard Butler of the University of Birmingham, who co-led the study published in Nature, said the dinosaur’s armor was unlike anything seen in any living or extinct species. The long spikes along its ribs and collar made it a truly unique creature.

Researchers believe the armor served dual purposes: protection against large predators and attracting mates during the breeding season. Butler added that the sheer size of the spikes makes it hard to imagine they were used solely for defense, suggesting they may also have played a role in courtship displays or rivalry between individuals.

The discovery of Spicomellus sheds new light on the evolution of ankylosaurs and highlights Morocco’s growing importance as a hub for paleontological breakthroughs.