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New dinosaur discovery in Morocco challenges understanding of dinosaur evolution

An international team of researchers has uncovered fossils in Morocco that suggest advanced defensive structures in dinosaurs, such as spiked tails, appeared much earlier than previously thought. The discovery, detailed in The Conversation, indicates these features emerged at least 30 million years earlier than prior estimates, over 165 million years ago. The new dinosaur, named Spicomellus afer, was found in the Atlas Mountains. This armored herbivore, an ankylosaur, is unique for having bony spikes fused directly to its ribs. It also featured a neck collar of long spines, some nearly a meter in length, and a complex armor of plates and bony protrusions. Researchers identified fused vertebrae in its tail, characteristic of dinosaurs with a "caudal weapon" like a club or spikes for defense. These adaptations were previously associated with much more recent species. Scientists also propose that these structures may have served purposes beyond defense, such as impressing rivals or attracting mates. This discovery highlights Morocco's significant role in global paleontological research, with its fossil deposits continuing to provide crucial insights into prehistoric biodiversity in Africa and worldwide.