New study has shown that the well-preserve fossil of a nodosaur, a plant-eating dinosaur, can withstand the force of a high-speed car crash. TheĀ fossil, discover in Alberta, Canada, belongs to Borealopelta markmitchelli, a species that live around 110 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period.
This fossil is one of the best-preserve dinosaur specimens ever find, offering unprecedent insights into the defensive capabilities of the nodosaurās armour.
This research, led by biomechanical paleontologist Dr. Michael Habib from UCLA, reveal that the keratin sheaths covering the nodosaurās bony spikes were significantly thicker than originally thought.
The thickness of the keratin layer on the fossil was measure at nearly 16 centimetres in some areas, much thicker than the keratin found in modern-day animals like cattle horns.
This keratin, combine with bony spikes, provide an exceptionally strong defence.
As per Dr. Michael Habib, the strength of the nodosaurās armour was such that it can withstand over 125,000 joules of energy per square metre which is equivalent to the force from a high-speed car collision.
This research highlight that this armour was a defence against predators but it also likely play a role in combat between males of the same species.
The study further suggest that the nodosaurās armour, consisting of a flexible keratin layer, allow for greater mobility and protection.
If the keratin was damage, it can be shed, offering a quick recovery mechanism compare to brittle bone armour that could crack under impact.
The presence of keratin would also have allow the dinosaur to fight effectively with its rivals, which could have crucial in mating battles.
The fossilās remarkable preservation has led to further insights into the armour of other dinosaur species, with researchers suggesting that similar adaptations might have widespread among armoured dinosaurs.
