He was no giant, but a master of defense: Spicomellus afer is one of the most enigmatic dinosaurs of North Africa – and at the same time one of the oldest known ankylosaurs in the world. His name means something like "African spike shield" – and that says it all.
Who was Spicomellus afer?
Spicomellus afer lived about 163 to 168 million years ago in the Middle Jurassic – making it one of the oldest ankylosaurs ever discovered. Its fossil remains were found in Morocco, in the Middle Atlas region. This makes it an important puzzle piece for understanding early dinosaur evolution on the African continent.
What do we know about him?
The fossil finds are fragmentary – mainly osteoderms (bony armor plates) and individual skeletal elements have been preserved. These armor plates looked like flat, spiny bone islands embedded in the skin – a natural shield against predators. Spicomellus belongs to the group of Ankylosauria, which also includes the well-known Ankylosaurus from the Cretaceous period.
Despite its scientific importance, Spicomellus afer remains to this day one of the least researched dinosaurs of its group. The known fossils are so sparse that many fundamental questions – such as its exact body size, behavior, or lifestyle – are still completely open. We simply know very little about him.. The known fossils
Why is he so scientifically important?
Spicomellus afer proves that armored dinosaurs were already widespread in Africa during the Jurassic – much earlier than previously assumed. It helps paleontologists reconstruct the spread of Ankylosauria from Gondwana. Every new find from this era is a window into a time about which we still know very little.
Africa as a site for rare fossils
Morocco is now one of the most important countries for fossil finds worldwide. In addition to Spicomellus, Spinosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, and numerous marine reptiles have been discovered there. Many of the commercially available fossils – including shark teeth, ammonites, and mosasaur teeth – come from Moroccan sites.
Collecting fossils from the age of dinosaurs
Even if Spicomellus fossils are not freely available, there are many other genuine fossils from the dinosaur era – shark teeth, ammonites, or mosasaur teeth – that can be legally acquired with a certificate of authenticity.
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