Scientists have discovered a bizarre armoured dinosaur which had metre-long spikes sticking out from its neck. The species, called Spicomellus afer, lived 165 million years ago, and is the oldest example of a group of armoured dinosaurs called ankylosaurs. The elaborateness and spikiness of the animal found in Morocco has come as a shock to experts, who now have to rethink how these armoured dinosaurs evolved. Prof Richard Butler, from the University of Birmingham who co-led the research, referred to it as the 'punk rocker' of its time. Punk rock is a sub-culture and music style that first emerged in the 1970s, characterized by spiky hair and accessories. 'It is one of the strangest dinosaurs ever discovered,' noted Prof Butler. Its project co-leader, Prof Susannah Maidment of the Natural History Museum, stated that the spikes were fused directly onto the bone—a unique characteristic not seen in any other known animal. The discovery leads to discussions about the evolution of ankylosaurs, indicating they may have started off with complex armor, which over millions of years simplified for defense against tougher predators in the Cretaceous period. The fossils were discovered by a local farmer in Morocco, marking the first ankylosaur found on the African continent. 'It was a jaw-dropping, spine-tingling moment,' Prof Butler shared about the discovery, emphasizing the significance of this find in advancing Moroccan science.