| Spicomellus Temporal range: Middle Jurassic | |
|---|---|
| |
| A restoration of Spicomellus afer by Joschua Knüppe | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | †Ornithischia |
| Suborder: | †Thyreophora |
| Family: | †Ankylosauria |
| Genus: | †Spicomellus Maidment, 2021 |
| Species: | †S. afer |
| Type species | |
| †Spicomellus afer Maidment, 2021 | |
Spicomellus was a genus of Ankylosaurian from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco.
Description & Naming[]
Spicomellus afer was described based on dermal armor material,[1] found in the El Mers Group of Morocco, Africa. It was named by Dr Susannah Maidment, a researcher at the Natural History Museum, in 2021. Its generic name "Spicomellus" means "Collar of Spikes", while its specific name "afer", refers to the continent in which it was found.[2]
Importance[]
Spicomellus is important because it fills in the gap of middle jurassic ankylosaurs, and also extends the geographical range of Ankylosaurs in gondwana, which are pretty rare to find. It is the earliest definitive Ankylosaur, with its fossils dating back as early as the Bathionian stage.[3]
Paleoecology[]
Spicomellus would have coexisted with sauropods like the informally-named "Cetiosaurus" mogrebiensis, and the early stegosaur named Adratiklit.
References[]
- ↑ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-021-01553-6
- ↑ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10018043/Bizarre-armoured-spike-fossil-belongs-dinosaur-lived-Africa-168-MILLION-years-ago.html
- ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/press-office/bizarre-armoured-spikes-belong-to-oldest-ankylosaur-ever-discove.html