New Dinosaur Species, *Haolong dongi*, Reveals Unique Spiny Skin

Paleontologists have announced the discovery of a new dinosaur species, Haolong dongi, from the Early Cretaceous period. This iguanodontian dinosaur, unearthed in northeastern China, is remarkable for its exceptionally well-preserved skin, featuring unique integumentary structures not previously observed in other non-avian dinosaurs.

Discovery and Naming

The discovery, detailed in research published in February 2026, centers around a nearly complete, articulated skeleton of a juvenile Haolong dongi recovered from the Yixian Formation in Liaoning, China. The genus name, Haolong, translates to “spiny dragon” in Mandarin Chinese, a nod to the dinosaur’s distinctive spines. The species name, dongi, honors Dong Zhiming, a prominent Chinese paleontologist. CNRS

Physical Characteristics and Integument

The fossilized skeleton measures approximately 2.45 meters (8.0 feet) in length. What sets Haolong dongi apart is the exceptional preservation of its integument – its outer skin. The dinosaur’s skin was covered in scales interspersed with hollow, keratinous spines. These spines vary in size, ranging from 2 to 3 millimeters to as large as 44 millimeters. Sci.news

Researchers note that these spines differ from both the protofeathers found in non-avian theropods and the spines of modern squamates (lizards and snakes). They have been likened to porcupine quills. Wikipedia

Possible Functions of the Spines

The function of these spines remains a topic of investigation. Scientists hypothesize they may have served multiple purposes, including:

• Defense against predators: While not strong enough to inflict serious injury, the spines could have deterred smaller predators or made the dinosaur more hard to kill and digest. Sci.news
• Thermoregulation: The spines may have helped regulate the dinosaur’s body temperature, particularly given the relatively cold climate of the region. Sci.news
• Tactile sensing: The spines could have provided a heightened sense of touch. Wikipedia

Classification and Evolutionary Context

Haolong dongi is classified as a hadrosauroid, placing it within the ornithopod dinosaur group. Hadrosauroids represent an evolutionary link between early, bipedal ornithopods and the later, more specialized duck-billed dinosaurs (hadrosaurs). Sci.news

Phylogenetic analysis conducted by Huang et al. (2026) utilized an updated matrix from Bertozzo et al. (2025) to determine the relationships of Haolong. Wikipedia

Implications for Understanding Dinosaur Integument

The discovery of Haolong dongi provides valuable new insights into the diversity of skin coverings in early iguanodontians. Prior to this identify, knowledge of integument in these dinosaurs was limited to isolated scale imprints. The exceptional preservation of Haolong’s skin offers a more complete picture of the evolutionary history of dinosaur integument. Sci.news