Paleontologists have discovered a remarkable new dinosaur in China—one that carried unusual skin spikes unlike anything ever seen before in dinosaurs.
The find adds a surprising new chapter to the story of iguanodontians, a well-known group of plant-eating dinosaurs that has been studied for more than 200 years.
The new species, named Haolong dongi, lived around 125 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period.
It was identified from an exceptionally well-preserved fossil of a juvenile dinosaur, discovered by scientists from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and their international collaborators.
What makes this fossil extraordinary is not just the skeleton, but the fossilized skin that still retains microscopic details after more than a hundred million years.
Using advanced X-ray imaging and high-resolution analysis of thin tissue slices, the research team found preserved skin cells—something extremely rare in dinosaur fossils.
These analyses revealed a network of hollow, skin-based spikes covering much of the animal’s body. Until now, there had been no solid evidence that dinosaurs possessed this kind of cutaneous spike structure.
The spikes were not made of bone, like horns or plates, but grew from the skin itself. Their structure suggests they may have functioned as a defensive shield, similar to how porcupines use their quills to deter predators.
At the time, Haolong dongi lived alongside small meat-eating dinosaurs, so these spikes may have offered protection against attacks.
Scientists think the spikes may have had additional roles beyond defense. Because they were hollow and closely linked to the skin, they could have helped regulate body temperature by releasing heat, or even played a sensory role, allowing the dinosaur to detect changes in its surroundings.
This combination of possible functions makes the spikes a unique evolutionary innovation among dinosaurs.
The species was named in honor of Dong Zhiming, a leading figure in Chinese paleontology who has contributed greatly to the study of dinosaurs in Asia.
Since the fossil belongs to a young individual, researchers are still unsure whether adult Haolong dongi dinosaurs also had these spines, or whether they changed as the animal grew.
Published on February 6, 2026, the discovery offers rare insight into dinosaur skin, behavior, and evolution. It shows that dinosaurs may have been far more diverse in their body coverings than previously imagined—and that even after centuries of study, they can still surprise us.
