Key Takeaways:
- 1. Newly discovered Spicomellus remains show that the armor of ankylosaurs became less elaborate over time.
- 2. Spicomellus had sharper and larger spikes on its body compared to later ankylosaurs.
- 3. The unique dermal armor modifications of Spicomellus make it unlike any other vertebrate, extinct or extant.
The discovery of Spicomellus remains has revealed that ankylosaur armor evolved to be less elaborate over time. Spicomellus had sharp and large spikes on its body, including a massive half-collar of bone with extremely long spikes on its neck. Its unique dermal armor modifications make it distinct from any other vertebrate. The skeleton's characteristics challenge classification within the ankylosaur family tree, suggesting it may be an early branch from the main lineage.
Insight: The unusual characteristics of Spicomellus highlight the complexity of its evolutionary history and its distinctiveness from other armored dinosaurs.
This article was curated by memoment.jp from the feed source: Ars Technica.
Read the original article here: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/08/new-dinosaur-species-is-the-punk-rock-version-of-an-ankylosaur/
© All rights belong to the original publisher.
