Tag Archives: Armored

New Armored Reptile Species Discovered from the Triassic Period in Brazil

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A newly discovered genus and species of pseudoarchosaur has been revealed from fossils found in southern Brazil.

Taingraqaskus Bellator. Image credit: Caio Fantini.

Taingraqaskus Bellator inhabited the area now known as Brazil during the Triassic period around 240 million years ago.

This ancient predator measured about 2.4 m (8 ft) in length and weighed approximately 60 kg.

The back of this species featured bony plates called osteoderms, a characteristic also seen in modern crocodilians.

Utilizing their long necks and agile movements, these predators quickly captured prey with swift, precise actions, employing their slender jaws filled with sharply curved teeth to secure their catch and prevent escape.

Dr. Rodrigo Temp Muller, a paleontologist at the Federal University of Santa Maria, stated, “This creature was an active predator, but despite its considerable size, it was not the largest hunter within its ecosystem, which included giants reaching up to 7 meters (23 feet) long.”

Taingraqaskus Bellator was part of the pseudostia — ancestors of modern crocodiles and alligators.

According to Dr. Temp-Müller, “Pseudostia were a diverse group capable of tackling tough prey, along with smaller hunters adept at catching swift animals.”

“It may resemble a dinosaur, yet Taingraqaskus Bellator does not belong to that classification.”

“One of the most evident distinctions from dinosaurs lies in its pelvic structure, where the hip and femoral joints exhibit significantly different characteristics.”

“The discovery of Taingraqaskus Bellator highlights the intricate ecosystem of the time, showcasing various pseudospecies with distinct sizes and hunting methods filling specific ecological roles.”

“This find uncovers crucial phases in life’s history that predate the arrival of dinosaurs.”

A partial skeleton of Taingraqaskus Bellator was located in Dona Francisca, southern Brazil, in May 2025, with its lower jaw, spinal column, and pelvic girdle preserved.

Although the limbs were not found, experts speculate that, like its relatives, it moved on all fours.

“The discovery of Taingraqaskus Bellator provides further evidence of an ancient link between Brazil and Africa during the Triassic period, a time when the continents were fused into the supercontinent Pangea,” said Dr. Temp Muller.

“Despite the variety of pseudonesters, some lineages are extremely rare in the fossil record, leading to a limited understanding of them.”

“The fossils underwent meticulous preparation in the lab, carefully removing surrounding rock.”

“Upon revealing the anatomical details, it became apparent that the specimen represented a previously unknown species, which was incredibly exciting for us.”

“We found a species closely related to a predator, Mandasucus Tanyauchen, discovered in Tanzania.”

“This link between South American and African fauna can be contextualized within Triassic paleogeography.”

“During this period, continents were still connected, allowing life to disperse freely across regions that are now separated by oceans.”

“Consequently, the Brazilian and African faunas share numerous commonalities, reflecting intertwined evolutionary and ecological narratives.”

Taingraqaskus Bellator would have thrived in the same environment where the first dinosaurs arose, in areas adjacent to vast arid deserts.

“Our findings indicate that southern Brazil’s reptiles had already developed diverse communities adapted to various survival strategies.”

“Moreover, this discovery unveils that such diversity is not an isolated phenomenon.”

This research is detailed in the following article: paper published in Journal of Systematic Paleontology.

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Rodrigo Temp Muller and others. Osteology, taxonomy, and phylogenetic relationships of a new pseudoarchosaur from the Middle Triassic of southern Brazil. Journal of Systematic Paleontology, published online on November 12, 2025. doi: 10.1080/14772019.2025.2573750

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists Unearth Fossils of Armored Spicomeras in Morocco

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“We were astonished by its unusual characteristics and how it differs from other dinosaurs, or even all known living or extinct animals,” stated Richard Butler, co-leader of the project and paleontologist at the University of Birmingham in the UK.

The chance to examine the fossils of Spicomelas was to “sway the spine,” Butler remarked.

It wasn’t only the project participants who were captivated.

“This is genuinely one of the most bizarre and unique dinosaurs I have ever encountered,” said Steve Brusatte, a vertebrate paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh, who was not part of the research.

“With spikes jutting out across its body, it resembles a kind of reptilian porcupine,” he mentioned on Thursday. “If you were a carnivorous dinosaur from the Jurassic period, you would definitely want to steer clear of this creature.”

Brusatte continued: “This exemplifies how much there is still to uncover. Prior to the discovery of these fossils, there was no indication that such a remarkable animal existed.”

Maidment, another co-leader of the study, emphasized the need for further research in Africa, noting that countries such as Morocco are untapped reservoirs for dinosaur exploration.

“It’s vastly underrepresented compared to other continents,” said a representative from the National Museum of History in London.

Maidment mentioned that the Spicomellus project, which commenced in 2018, encountered numerous challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UK team was set to travel and collaborate with their Moroccan counterparts when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared the lockdown, resulting in a postponement of plans until 2022.

In spite of these obstacles, research initiatives have marked significant progress in Moroccan science.

“This research has significantly advanced Moroccan science. I have never encountered a dinosaur like this before. There’s still so much more to discover in this area.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

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

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Reconstructing the life of Spicomellus Afer – Fossils of ankylosaurus discovered in Morocco

Matthew Dempsey

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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Source: www.newscientist.com

Newly Discovered Armored Dinosaur Species Unearthed in China

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Paleontologists have identified a new species from the Ankylosaurus dinosaur genus Zhongyuansaurus, using specimens discovered in Henan Province, China.

Reconstructing the life of Zhongyuansaurus Junchangi. Image credit: Connor Ashbridge / CC by 4.0.

Ankylosaurids (Antirosaurididae) were a group of herbivorous tetrapods known for their sturdy, scute-covered bodies, distinct armor, leaf-shaped teeth, and club-like tails.

The earliest and most renowned ankylosaurid dates back to approximately 122 million years ago, while the last species went extinct around 66 million years ago during the mass extinction event.

The newly recognized species belongs to a previously monospecific genus of Ankylosaurus called Zhongyuansaurus.

It is named Zhongyuansaurus Junchangi and lived in the region now known as China.

Fossils were collected from the upper section of the Haoling Formation in Zhongwa village, Henan Province, China.

“The fossils are preserved within an area of about 9 m.2,” noted Dr. Ji Min Chang from the Henan Museum of Natural History.

“They are fragmented and show no overlapping preservation, indicating they belong to a single individual.”

“The specimen includes one right mandible, 14 free caudal vertebrae, seven fused terminal caudal vertebrae forming a rod-like structure, four ribs, one left humerus, one elongated metatarsal, and 41 osteoblasts of varying sizes and shapes.”

The right lower jaw of Zhongyuansaurus Junchangi. Image credit: Zhang et al., doi: 10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2023037.

Zhongyuansaurus Junchangi exhibits a unique autapomorphy, featuring at least five caudal armor plates arranged in a distinct shiny pattern resembling a swallow shape.

“Furthermore, it has a relatively slender mandible compared to the more robust mandibles found in advanced Ankylosaurina,” the paleontologist added.

“The anterior tip of the coronoid process differentiates it from Chamosaurus, extending only into the last two alveoli.”

“The distal caudal vertebrae are decorated with small osteoblasts, and the humerus has a shaft proportion enclosed within 0.46, distinguishing it from Zhongyuansaurus luoyangensis.”

“The discovery of Zhongyuansaurus Junchangi provides new insights into the evolution of ankylosaurs in the lower Cretaceous layers of Ruyang and enhances the species diversity within the Ruyang Dinosaur Fauna,” the researchers concluded.

Their paper was published in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Sinica.

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Ji-Ming Zhang et al. 2025. New ankylosaur material from the lower Cretaceous period in the Luyan Basin, Henan Province. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica 64(1): 60-73; doi: 10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2023037

Source: www.sci.news

Home to Large-Horned Lizards and Armored Cretaceous Dinosaurs in North America.

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Recently discovered fossil specimens of the Monsters include new genera and species, Borguamondor, found in southern Utah’s magnificent Kaiparowitz Formation at Escalante National Monument. These specimens highlight the remarkable diversity of these large lizards during the late North American period.

Reconstruction of Borguamondor‘s life. Image credit: Cullen Townsend.

Borguamondor existed in North America during the Cretaceous Campania period, approximately 72 million years ago.

These ancient reptiles represent a portion of the evolution of large-bodied lizards known as the Monsters. One of the most notable examples is the Gira monster, which still inhabits deserts where new species have been rediscovered.

“According to Monster Aurus Hank Wooley, a paleontologist at the Dinosaur Institute:

“They have a lineage spanning about 100 million years, but their fossil records remain largely incomplete. Discoveries like Borguamondor are significant in understanding these remarkable lizards, which would have appeared monstrous to us.”

“With an estimated length of about 1 m (3 feet), depending on the size of the tail and body, it may have been even larger.”

“In comparison to modern lizards, it was a large creature, akin to a monitor lizard inhabiting the savanna.

Related skeletal remains of Borguamondor, including skulls, vertebrae, girdles, limbs, and osteoderm fragments, were discovered starting in 2005 at the Kaiparowits Formation in Utah.

“Dr. Randy Ilmith, a paleontologist at the University of Utah, commented on Borguamondor:

Other fossils retrieved by the team include heavily armored skull bones, suggesting that ancient, seasonally tropical forests in southern Utah were home to at least three distinct types of large predatory lizards.

“Despite their size, the skeletal remains of these lizards are incredibly rare; most fossil records are based on isolated bones and teeth,” noted Dr. Joe Celtic, a paleontologist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and Colorado State University.

“The exceptional fossil record of large lizards from the Grand Stair Escalante National Monument may indicate that they were a typical part of the dinosaur-dominated ecosystem in North America, playing a vital role as small predators hunting for eggs and smaller animals in Lalamidia forests.”

“The identification of this new species within the Monsters category suggests the potential for undiscovered large lizards from the late Cretaceous period,” the researchers remarked.

“Moreover, this discovery underscores that there remains untapped diversity yet to be uncovered both in the field and within paleontological collections.”

“The closest known relatives of Borguamondor are found across the planet in the Asian Gobi Desert.”

“It has been widely recognized that these creatures traversed the former Cretaceous continents, which were once interconnected. The discovery of Borguamondor suggests that smaller animals also migrated, indicating a broader biogeographical pattern among terrestrial vertebrates during this era.”

Survey results will be published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

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C. Henrik Woolley et al. 2025. New specimens of Monstaurus from the Kaiparowitz Formation in Utah reveal the unexpected diversity of ancient large lizards in late North America. R. Soc. Open SCI 12(6): 250435; doi: 10.1098/rsos.250435

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of a 100 million year old armored dinosaur’s footprints in Canada

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It will be assigned to a new ICHNOSPECIES Ruopodasaurus clava the footprints of these dinosaurs found in northeastern British Columbia and northwest Alberta confirm the presence of antirosaurus antirosaurus during the Middle North American period.

Cast specimen of Ruopodasaurus clava From the Murray River, British Columbia, Canada. Image credits: Arbor et al. , doi: 10.1080/02724634.2025.2451319.

“There are two major groups in Ankylosaurus,” says Dr. Victoria Arbor, an evolutionary biologist and vertebrate paleontologist at the Royal BC Museum and the University of Victoria.

“The Nodosaurid Ankylosaurs have a flexible tail and four toes, while the Ankylosaurs have a tail club like the Sledgehammer, with only three legs.”

“Unlike the well-known Ichnospecies of the Ankylosaurus. Tetrapodosaurus borealis These new tracks found in North America with four toes – Name Ruopodasaurus clava – There are only three, so anywhere in the world makes the first known example of antirosaurus footprints.”

“Ruopodasaurus clava means “falling lizards with clubs/maces,” referring to both the mountainous areas where these tracks were discovered and the distinctive tail clubs of these dinosaurs.

They don’t know exactly what the dinosaurs made, but Ruopodasaurus clava Although it looks like a footprint, paleontologists know it was about 5-6m long, thorny, armored, and had a stiff or full tail club.

“Ankylosaurus is my favorite group of dinosaurs, so it’s really exciting for me to be able to identify new examples of these dinosaurs in British Columbia,” Dr. Arbor said.

Newly discovered Ruopodasaurus clava The footprint dates back to the mid-Cretaceous period, approximately 100 million to 94 million years ago.

No bones of Ankilosauride were found in North America about 100-84 million years ago, leading to speculation that antirosauride disappeared from North America at this time.

These footprints show that during this gap in the skeletal fossil record, tailed ankylosauruses were alive and well in North America.

This finding also shows that two major ankylosaurus of Nodosaurus – Nodosaurus and Ankylosaurus groups coexist in the same region during this time, including this new three indirect species.

“We’ve seen a lot of experience in the world,” said Dr. Charles Helm, scientific advisor at the Tumbler Ridge Museum.

“It’s really exciting to know that through this research there are two types of Ankylosaurus that call this area home. Ruopodasaurus clava It has been identified only in this region of Canada.”

“The study also highlights how important the Peace Region in northeastern British Columbia is to understand the evolution of dinosaurs in North America.

“This discovery gives us a new part of the puzzle about ancient creatures that once roamed Canadian stuff.”

Findings are reported in a paper in Journal of VertebratePaleontology.

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Victoria M. Arbor et al. Ichnotaxon, a new tyrophoran from British Columbia, Canada, confirms the existence of antirosaurus dinosaurs in the central Cretaceous period of North America. Journal of VertebratePaleontologyPublished online on April 14th, 2025. doi:10.1080/02724634.2025.2451319

Source: www.sci.news

Tesla Armored Vehicles to Receive $400 Million Funding from US State Department

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The US State Department has allocated $400 million to purchase new Tesla armored vehicles, despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk leading efforts to reduce government spending during Donald Trump’s term.

Sector-generated procurement forecasts indicate a proposed expenditure of $400 million (£320 million) for “armored Teslas (production units).” These vehicles could potentially be the Cybertrucks, Tesla’s latest electric pickup model, touted by Musk as being bulletproof.

This revelation raises concerns about a possible conflict of interest for Musk, who is a major beneficiary of US government contracts through his various companies.

While Musk’s wealth primarily comes from Tesla, his rocket company SpaceX is a key contractor providing space launch services to the US government.

Despite Musk’s efforts to streamline government spending, particularly through his initiative named Doge, Trump has also involved him in government efficiency efforts. These actions have been criticized for potentially violating the US Constitution.

State Department documents suggest that the Tesla contract will be finalized by the end of September.

The department’s website originally included a forecast document dated December 13, 2024, showing the Tesla procurement plan. However, a later version corrected this entry after it was reported by Drop Site News, replacing “Tesla” with “armored electric vehicles” (EVs) without specifying the brand.

In addition to Tesla, the US government also procures armored vehicles from other manufacturers, as indicated in the procurement documents.

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Both Tesla and the US State Department have been approached for comments on the matter.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cretaceous Dinosaurs with Armored Bodies had Two Cheek Horns

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A new genus and species of ankylosaurid dinosaur have been identified from two specimens discovered in southeastern China.

type specimen of Datai Inliangis Rebuilt on site. The head, neck, and thorax of the specimen were discovered and extracted from a single block. Image credit: Xing other., doi: 10.18435/vamp29396.

named Datai Inliangisthe newly discovered dinosaur species roamed the Earth during the Late Cretaceous period, about 96 million to 90 million years ago.

ancient beast was a member strongosaursa group of club-tailed armored dinosaurs that reached a peak of diversity in the latest Cretaceous period.

“Ankylosaurids are iconic armored dinosaurs that characterized the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of Asia and Laramidia (western North America) during the Late Cretaceous period,” said a paleontologist from the China University of Geosciences. Rida Singh And my colleagues.

“The earliest members of this clade are known from the Early Late Cretaceous of Asia, but there is little consensus on how they relate to anatomically derived and chronologically younger forms. are not obtained.”

“In southeastern China, Cretaceous red sand beds extend into a basin from Zhejiang to Guangdong.”

“However, horizons corresponding to the early Late Cretaceous remain poorly sampled.”

Two well-preserved immature skeletons Datai Inliangis It was collected from the Zhoutian Formation in southeastern China.

The specimens were found combined, with one head placed on top of the other, representing slightly different stages of the ontogeny of the skeleton.

“This is the first definitive vertebrate skeleton, let alone an armored dinosaur skeleton, excavated from the Ganzhou Formation,” the paleontologists said.

According to the authors: Datai Inliangis It is characterized by having two cheekbones/square zygomatic angle.

“The primary horn develops in the posteroventral horn of the skull and projects posterolaterally,” the researchers explained.

“There is a small attached horn just in front of this that hides the jaw joint when viewed from the side.”

“Morphologically, it is intermediate to older Asian ankylosaurids (e.g. crichton pelta and Giyumperta) and derived post-Cenomanian ankylosaurines (e.g. pinacosaurus),” they added.

“Phylogenetic analyzes broadly support this assessment.”

“The new species will either be placed in the Asian ankylosaurine subfamily, which is close to the lineage of the derived taxon, or it will form a sister lineage.” pinacosaurus”

“Based on these insights, Datai This genus represents an important addition to the Early Late Cretaceous vertebrate fauna of southeastern China and highlights the region's future potential for a better understanding of the origins and early evolution of ankylosaurids. ”

of discovery is reported in Vertebrate anatomy, morphology, and paleontology.

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L. Shin other. 2024. A new armored dinosaur with double cheek horns that lived in the early Late Cretaceous of southeastern China. Vertebrate anatomy, morphology, and paleontology 11; doi: 10.18435/vamp29396

Source: www.sci.news