This Dinosaur’s Armour Might Have Withstood a High-Speed Car Crash

A research has proven that the well-preserved fossil of a nodosaur, a plant-eating dinosaur, might face up to the drive of a high-speed automotive crash. The fossil, found in Alberta, Canada, belongs to Borealopelta markmitchelli , a species that lived round 110 million years in the past in the course of the Early Cretaceous interval. This fossil is without doubt one of the best-preserved dinosaur specimens ever discovered, providing unprecedented insights into the defensive capabilities of the nodosaur’s armour.

Examine Insights from Professional Researchers

The analysis, led by biomechanical paleontologist Dr. Michael Habib from UCLA, revealed that the keratin sheaths overlaying the nodosaur’s bony spikes have been considerably thicker than initially thought. The thickness of the keratin layer on the fossil was measured at almost 16 centimetres in some areas, a lot thicker than the keratin present in modern-day animals like cattle horns. This keratin, mixed with bony spikes, offered an exceptionally sturdy defence.

According to Dr. Habib, the energy of the nodosaur’s armour was such that it might face up to over 125,000 joules of vitality per sq. metre—equal to the drive from a high-speed automotive collision. The analysis highlighted that this armour was a defence in opposition to predators but it surely additionally doubtless performed a job in fight between males of the identical species.

Diversifications for Flexibility and Safety

The research additional prompt that the nodosaur’s armour, consisting of a versatile keratin layer, allowed for higher mobility and safety. If the keratin was broken, it might be shed, providing a fast restoration mechanism in comparison with brittle bone armour that would crack beneath influence. The presence of keratin would even have allowed the dinosaur to battle successfully with its rivals, which might have been essential in mating battles.

The fossil’s outstanding preservation has led to additional insights into the armour of different dinosaur species, with researchers suggesting that comparable diversifications might need been widespread amongst armoured dinosaurs.