Newly discovered dinosaur species had a spiked shield for protection

The discovery of skull fragments and other fossilized remains at the Judith River geological formation in Montana has led to the identification of a new species of horned dinosaur, raising the total number of new species discovered in this region of the state to nine.

The new dinosaur, which has been named Spiclypeus shipporum and which is described in the latest edition of the journal PLOS One, was described from bone representing the skull, part of the legs, hips, and backbones in a hillside that had once been part of an ancient floodplain.

According to lead author Jordan Mallon of the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa and his colleagues, the creature was different from other horned dinosaurs because of the way its horns were oriented sideways in the skull. In addition, its frill contained an array of uniquely formed bony spikes, some of which curled forward and some of which projected outward.

“This is a spectacular new addition to the family of horned dinosaurs that roamed western North America between 85 and 66 million years ago,” Mallon explained Wednesday in a statement. “It provides new evidence of dinosaur diversity during the Late Cretaceous period from an area that is likely to yield even more discoveries.”

Creature likely suffered from arthritis and bone infection

Analysis of the specimen, affectionately known as “Judith” because of where it was discovered, also revealed that the Spiclypeus shipporum may have been in pain throughout its life. The upper part of the arm bone (the humerus) showed signs of arthritis and bone infection, according to the study authors. Even so, the creature is believed to have been 10 years old when it died.

Spiclypeus shipporum is the ninth known dinosaur species to have been identified from remains discovered in or around Montana’s Judith River Formation, and when combined with previously published studies, it indicates that dinosaur faunas in western North American could have been highly localized some 70-80 million years ago. The newest fossils were found on land belonging to retired nuclear physicist Dr. Bill Shipp, for whom the creature is partially named.

“Little did I know that the first time I went fossil hunting I would stumble on a new species,” he noted in a statement. “As a scientist, I’m really pleased that the Canadian Museum of Nature has recognized the dinosaur’s value, and that it can now be accessed by researchers around the world as part of the museum’s fossil collections.”

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Image credit: Canadian Museum of Nature

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