A heavily armoured dinosaur bristling with extravagant spikes has been unearthed in Morocco, rewriting what scientists thought they knew about the evolution of ankylosaurs.

The species, named Spicomellus afer, lived about 165 million years ago and now represents the oldest-known member in this family of plant-eating dinosaurs with tank-like bodies. Measuring roughly four metres in length, a metre tall and weighing up to two tonnes, it carried an extraordinary collar of metre-long spikes, with smaller protrusions across its body, and likely a formidable tail weapon.

Professor Richard Butler of the University of Birmingham described the creature as “jaw-droppingly weird.”

“Not only did it have a series of sharp, long spikes on each of its ribs … but it had spines the length of golf clubs sticking out in a collar around its neck,” he explained.

The elaborate armour may have served a dual purpose: both for protection against predators and as a display to attract mates. Professor Susannah Maidment of the Natural History Museum in London noted: “Spicomellus’ armour is totally impractical … we think it is possible the animal evolved such elaborate armour for some sort of display, perhaps to do with mating.”

The discovery also highlights Morocco’s fossil richness, though poaching continues to present a growing challenge for researchers.

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