Unique stegosaurus dinosaur fossil discovered in Morocco

A stegosaurus fossil with distinctive features, including patterned armor and flat tail spikes, has been discovered in Morocco's Middle Atlas Mountains. 

The species, named Thyreosaurus atlasicus, lived around 165 million years ago in the Middle Jurassic period, according to a report in the Gondwana Research journal. 

The fossil, unearthed by a team comprising Moroccan researchers from the University of Hassan II and the University of Moulay Ismail, as well as scientists from Spain, France, and Argentina, displays "remarkable dermal armor." 

The bony deposits, up to 4 cm thick, are egg-shaped or rectangular.