Jurassic Oddity “Spicomellus”: A Creature That Looked Like a Hedgehog Clad in Armor | WPN World People News

Scientists have recently announced a remarkable discovery—the Jurassic dinosaur Spicomellus, described as resembling a “living hedgehog clad in spikes,” and hailed as one of the strangest dinosaurs ever found.

This dinosaur lived around 160 million years ago, with fossils first unearthed in Morocco, North Africa. Research indicates that it belonged to the ankylosaur group. Unlike other well-known heavily armored dinosaurs, however, its body was covered with spike-like structures that were directly connected to the bones rather than attached through skin or scales—a highly unusual defensive mechanism in the evolutionary history of dinosaurs.

According to analyses by teams from the University of Cambridge and the Natural History Museum in London, Spicomellus is estimated to have been 2 to 3 meters long, slow-moving, and herbivorous. Scientists suggest that its spikes not only helped defend against predators but may also have played a role in social interactions or display behaviors.

Significantly, this is the earliest known ankylosaur fossil discovered in Africa, challenging the previous belief that this group of dinosaurs was restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. The research team emphasized that the unique form of Spicomellus reveals that dinosaur evolution was more diverse than previously thought and may have included defensive strategies yet to be uncovered.

Scholars note that with the discovery of more fossils and advances in technology, future studies may shed light on the ecological role of this “hedgehog dinosaur” in the Jurassic world, offering new insights into dinosaur diversity and evolutionary history.