New Dinosaur Haolong dongi Wore Hollow, Porcupine-Like Spikes
Scientists describe Haolong dongi, a juvenile iguanodontian from northeastern China, with hollow, porcupine-like spikes along its neck, back, and sides. The 2.45 m skeleton is exceptionally well-preserved, but the spikes’ purpose remains unclear—defense, display, or sensing—while pigment was not detected and they are not protofeathers. The discovery broadens our view of dinosaur skin and was published in Nature Ecology & Evolution (2026).
