Armored Dinosaur’s “Crazy” Spikes: Beyond Just Defense

The dinosaur fossils unearthed in Morocco may represent some of the most bizarre and intricately armored vertebrates to have roamed the Earth.

The initial discover of Spicomellus Afer in Morocco was reported in 2021. This suggests that it comprises only rib bone fragments, adorned with fused spikes, from a group of dinosaurs categorized as Ankylosaurs. These herbivorous dinosaurs with stout bodies are known for their protective plates and spiked coverings.

In October 2022, farmers in the Badlands of the Middle Atlas Mountains began to uncover a much more complete Spicomellus skeleton. This fossil has been dated back to approximately 165 million years ago during the Jurassic period, suggesting that the creature may have reached lengths of about 4 meters and weighed as much as 2 tons.

Like modern crocodiles, armored dinosaurs such as Stegosaurs and Ankylosaurs possessed osteoderms—bony plates embedded within their skin. However, in the case of Spicomellus, its fossil reveals two distinct types of bone structures: the bony skin and spikes are fused together.

“This is unprecedented among armored dinosaurs, and indeed among any species with bony skin, making it totally astonishing,” remarked Susanna Maidment, a member of the team analyzing these fossils at the Natural History Museum in London.

Overall, the Spicomellus specimen boasts numerous armored spikes that cover nearly its entire body. Spikes attached to the neck region can measure around 1 meter in length. Additionally, fused vertebrae in the tail suggest it could serve as a potent weapon.

The creature’s peculiar attributes led Maidment to conclude that extreme descriptors were warranted in their explanations. “In scientific literature, phrases like ‘crazy’ are not acceptable. I opted for more elaborate language,” she noted. “One of my colleagues suggested that referring to its anomaly as ‘baroque’ could also be fitting for our research.”

This extreme form of armor would likely hinder the species’ movement through various environments, leading it to inhabit areas dense with vegetation, according to Maidment. “It would have been quite cumbersome,” she added.

Given the complexity of its armor, researchers speculate it served purposes beyond mere defense, potentially playing a role in mate attraction. “Elements that seem entirely extraordinary in the fossil record are often connected to reproduction, and I believe this complex armor was likely some form of display,” she concluded.

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