Spicomellus hueforge

Spicomellus – Hueforge 3D-Printed Artwork

Spicomellus is an extinct genus of ankylosaurian dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic period, around 168 million years ago, in what is now North Africa. Its name, Spicomellus afer, means “spiked collar from Africa,” and it is currently known from fossil material discovered in Morocco’s Kem Kem Beds. This dinosaur is remarkable because it represents one of the earliest known members of the ankylosaur group, which includes the heavily armoured plant-eating dinosaurs that became more common later in the Cretaceous. 

The most distinctive feature of Spicomellus is the unique arrangement of its armour. Its fossil remains show bony spikes that appear to be directly fused to the ribs—a feature not seen in any other known dinosaur. This peculiar integration of dermal armour and the skeletal system makes Spicomellus a highly unusual and important discovery, as it provides new insight into the early evolution of body armour among ankylosaurs. The fused spikes likely formed a protective collar or shoulder region, giving the animal a formidable defence against predators.