World's Oldest Armored Dinosaur Fossil Discovered in Morocco
New fossils discovered in Morocco's Atlas Mountains and near Boulemane unveil the world's oldest known ankylosaur specimen, distinguished by its unique armor.
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Overview
- New fossils were recently unearthed in Morocco, specifically within the Atlas Mountains and close to the town of Boulemane, marking a significant paleontological find.
- The discovery includes the world's oldest known specimen of an ankylosaur, a type of armored dinosaur, providing crucial insights into its early evolution.
- This ancient ankylosaur specimen is particularly notable for its unique and previously unobserved armor, distinguishing it from other known ankylosaur fossils.
- Being the oldest known ankylosaur, this fossil pushes back the timeline of the species' existence, enhancing understanding of dinosaur diversification.
- The findings from Morocco contribute valuable data to the scientific community, aiding researchers in reconstructing the evolutionary history of armored dinosaurs.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story with an enthusiastic and awe-struck tone, emphasizing the newly discovered ankylosaur's "badass" and "extreme" features. They use vivid, informal language and rhetorical flourishes to highlight its unique armor and formidable nature, presenting the scientific discovery as an exciting narrative of an "evolutionary arms race."
"This led to the birth of one of the strangest armored dinosaurs scientists have ever discovered."
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FAQ
The newly discovered armored dinosaur fossil is named Spicomellus afer.
The Spicomellus afer fossil dates to the Middle Jurassic, about 165 million years ago, making it the world's oldest known ankylosaur specimen, which pushes back the timeline of ankylosaur existence and aids in understanding their early evolution.
Spicomellus afer is distinguished by its unique armor with spikes up to one metre long fused to its skeleton, including an intimidating array of neck spikes thought to have evolved for sexual display rather than predator deterrence.
The Spicomellus afer fossils were discovered in the Atlas Mountains, specifically near the town of Boulemane in Morocco.
The discovery provides valuable data that helps scientists reconstruct the evolutionary history of armored dinosaurs and challenges previous understanding about ankylosaur evolution and diversity in the Middle Jurassic period.
History
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