A team of paleontologists in Morocco has unveiled a new species of sauropod dinosaur characterized by a unique row of elongated, bony spines along its cervical vertebrae. The fossilized remains, discovered in the High Atlas Mountains, date to the Early Cretaceous period. The species, named Spinatlasaurus maroccanus, stood approximately 15 meters long and represents a previously unknown evolutionary branch of long-necked herbivores in North Africa.
The preservation of the specimen is remarkable, with nearly 60% of the skeleton intact, including several neck vertebrae with the titular spines. Researchers speculate that these structures may have supported a skin-covered sail or served as a display mechanism for social signaling or defense. This discovery adds a critical piece to the puzzle of dinosaur diversification on the Gondwanan supercontinent before its final breakup.