Dinosaur with a 'Mohawk' of spikes discovered in Argentina
Last updated on: 12 February,2019 03:16 pm
The dinosaur, now known as Bajadasaurus Pronuspinax had two-feet-long spikes on their backs.
(Web Desk) - Paleontologists in southern Argentina have uncovered a dinosaur unlike anything ever seen before.
Roaming Patagonia around 140 million years ago in the Cretaceous, these majestic herbivores featured long, forward-pointing spikes - a horny mohawk rising up from their spine.
These spikes might have performed a defensive role, but their exact purpose has unveiled a fascinating new mystery.
According to a new research published in Scientific Reports, the dinosaur, now known as the herbivore Bajadasaurus Pronuspinax (pronounced “BA-HAD-AH-SAURUS” “PRONE-OO-SPIN-ACKS”), had two-feet-long spikes protruding from its back.
They were likely similar to horns seen on modern-day antelopes with thick keratin covering the bone spikes.
The latter part of its name means “bent over forward spine,” owing to its most distinctive feature.
The dinosaurs belonged to the sauropod family, which were known to have long necks and tails. This specific dinosaur likely measured about 30 feet long.
The dinosaur s spikes were likely used to fend off predators and make it more difficult and deterring to attack. The sharp spikes, creating a mohawk along the dinosaur s back are long and thin enough that they would have likely been surrounded by keratin in order to not break off during an attack.
Analysis of the Bajadasaurus skull and teeth has suggested that they had grazed on low-lying plants.
Their eye sockets were located near the roof of the skull, allowing them to keep watch for predators while they munched on foliage.
Prior to this latest discovery, paleontologists had uncovered another South American dicraeosauridae with spikes, Amargasaurus cazaui. This sleek-looking sauropod lived around 15 million years after Bajadasaurus, but its spikes were much shorter and they leaned backward instead of forward.
However, Bajadasaurus is notable both for the size of its spikes and their forward-leaning orientation. The longest of the rod-like neural spines measured nearly 5 feet in length, close to 150 centimeters.