New Dinosaur Species with Unique Spikes Discovered in China

For over two centuries, paleontologists have studied the Iguanodontia group of plant-eating dinosaurs, known for their beaked mouths and strong hind legs. Now, this well-established branch of the dinosaur family tree has a surprising new member. Researchers have identified a previously unknown species possessing a type of body covering never before documented in any dinosaur.

Discovery in China Reveals a New Species

Scientists from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and collaborating institutions made the discovery in China, uncovering the remarkably well-preserved fossilized remains of a young iguanodontian. The specimen’s extraordinary condition extends beyond its skeleton to include preserved skin, a rare occurrence given the challenges of soft tissue preservation over millions of years.

Cellular-Level Preservation and Advanced Imaging

Using advanced imaging techniques, including X-ray scanning and high-resolution histological analysis – the examination of ultra-thin tissue slices under a microscope – the team studied the fossil at the cellular level. This allowed them to reconstruct the structure of unusual, hollow spikes embedded in the skin, with individual skin cells preserved for approximately 125 million years. Nature

Haolong dongi: A Unique Spiked Dinosaur

These spikes, originating in the skin (cutaneous spikes), covered much of the dinosaur’s body. Unlike horns or bony plates, they were hollow structures, a feature previously unseen in dinosaurs. The newly identified species has been named Haolong dongi, honoring Dong Zhiming, a pioneering Chinese paleontologist. CNRS

Defensive Adaptations and Potential Additional Functions

Haolong dongi was a herbivore living during the Early Cretaceous period, a time when small carnivorous dinosaurs posed a threat. The hollow spikes likely served as a defensive adaptation, similar to the quills of a porcupine, deterring predators. However, researchers suggest the spikes may have likewise played a role in thermoregulation – helping to regulate body temperature – or sensory perception. CNRS

Implications for Dinosaur Skin Evolution

Prior to this discovery, there was no evidence of dinosaurs possessing hollow, skin-based spines of this kind. As the specimen is a juvenile, scientists are continuing to investigate whether adult individuals retained these structures as they matured. The findings, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution on February 6, 2026, introduce a new feature to the known diversity of dinosaur anatomy and highlight the complexity of skin evolution in ornithischian dinosaurs. Nature

Iguanodontia: A Historical Perspective

The Iguanodontia group, first identified in the early 1800s, includes dinosaurs like Iguanodon, known for its large size and distinctive thumb spikes. Wikipedia Even as many species have been classified within this genus, recent taxonomic revisions have focused on a more well-substantiated species, Iguanodon bernissartensis, which lived approximately 126 to 122 million years ago. Wikipedia