spiny dragon dinosaur fossil A 125-million-year-old specimen discovered by scientists in northeastern China was well preserved enough to reveal rare details of its skin. The discovery provides one of the clearest studies yet of what this plant-eating dinosaur looked like during its lifetime.

Researchers identified the animal as Haolong dongi, a member of the iguanodont group. This species has long and short spikes all over its body, giving it a porcupine-like appearance. Scientists believe the spikes likely helped protect dinosaurs from predators. ancient ecosystem.

Early details of the ‘Spiney Dragon’ dinosaur fossil

An international research team led by China’s Anhui Provincial Geological Museum and Belgium’s Institute of Natural Sciences discovered the fossils in the area’s rich sedimentary layers. The specimen contains large overlapping scales on the tail; skin spots That wasn’t expected.

Experts said the diversity and structure of the spines was unprecedented in other dinosaurs. They pointed out that while defense was probably their primary function, spines may have also helped dinosaurs sense their surroundings and regulate their body temperature.

Huang Jiandong from the Anhui Provincial Geological Museum said: study It shows that dinosaur skin was much more complex than previously understood.

Pascal Godefroy, from the Institute of Natural Sciences, said the preservation of the skin at a cellular level was extraordinary and would provide valuable insight into the ecology of animals that lived more than 100 million years ago.